Elite Panel of ICC Umpires

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The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires is a panel of cricket umpires appointed by the International Cricket Council to officiate in Test matches and One Day Internationals around the world.

The panel was first established in April 2002 when the ICC decided to reform the way that international cricket was umpired. The main change was that both umpires in Test match and one of the umpires in One-day international are now independent of the competing nations, whereas before 2002 just one of the umpires in a Test was neutral and both umpires in ODIs were from the home nation.

The majority of these ICC appointments are fulfilled by the members of the Elite Panel, who are generally thought to be the best umpires in the world. As such the ICC hopes to ensure that umpiring standards are as high as possible. Members of the panel stand in around 10 Tests and 15 ODIs each year.[1]

Contents

[edit] Current members

Umpire Date of Birth Age as at 30 December 2009 Tests ODIs Country
Aleem Dar 6 June 1968 &0000000000000041.00000041 years, &0000000000000207.000000207 days 55 114 Pakistan Pakistan
Asad Rauf 12 May 1956 &0000000000000053.00000053 years, &0000000000000232.000000232 days 24 58 Pakistan Pakistan
Mark Benson 6 July 1958 &0000000000000051.00000051 years, &0000000000000177.000000177 days 26 72 England England
Brent 'Billy' Bowden 11 April 1963 &0000000000000046.00000046 years, &0000000000000263.000000263 days 54 127 New Zealand New Zealand
Steve Davis 9 April 1952 &0000000000000057.00000057 years, &0000000000000265.000000265 days 17 82 Australia Australia
Asoka de Silva 28 March 1956 &0000000000000053.00000053 years, &0000000000000277.000000277 days 37 82 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Billy Doctrove 3 July 1955 &0000000000000054.00000054 years, &0000000000000180.000000180 days 22 83 British West Indies West Indies
Ian Gould 19 August 1957 &0000000000000052.00000052 years, &0000000000000133.000000133 days 3 31 England England
Daryl Harper 23 October 1951 &0000000000000058.00000058 years, &0000000000000068.00000068 days 80 158 Australia Australia
Tony Hill 26 June 1951 &0000000000000058.00000058 years, &0000000000000187.000000187 days 9 63 New Zealand New Zealand
Rudi Koertzen 26 March 1949 &0000000000000060.00000060 years, &0000000000000279.000000279 days 101 201 South Africa South Africa
Simon Taufel 21 January 1971 &0000000000000038.00000038 years, &0000000000000343.000000343 days 56 139 Australia Australia

[edit] Original Panel

When the panel was formed in 2002 it comprised:[2]

Since then Venkat retired in 2004 [3], and David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire.[4] Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed in 2004.[5] De Silva was subsequently re-included on the panel in April 2008. Bucknor retired in March 2009, having stood in a record 128 Tests since March 1989,[6] leaving Harper and Koertzen as the only members still standing from the original panel.

Peter Willey was invited to be on the panel, but declined the opportunity because it would have required him to spend too much time away from his family.[7]

[edit] Additions to the Panel

Members of the International Panel of ICC Umpires stand in ODIs in their home countries, and may be appointed by the ICC to Tests and ODIs as a neutral official at busy times in the cricket calendar to supplement the Elite Panel.[1] The best performing umpires may earn promotion to the Elite Panel. Billy Bowden, Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair were added to the panel in 2003 [8], Aleem Dar in 2004 [9], while Mark Benson, Billy Doctrove and Asad Rauf became members in 2006.[10] Steve Davis became a member on the panel in 2008. In 2009 Ian Gould and Tony Hill were added to the panel.

[edit] Sponsorship

Steve Bucknor during the 2006 Ashes Test at Adelaide, wearing a 'Fly Emirates' shirt

Emirates Airlines sponsors the panel, and the umpires are required to wear shirts and coats which have 'Fly Emirates' printed on them whenever they are officiating.[11]

[edit] Darrell Hair

Following the Ball Tampering Controversy in August 2006 Darrell Hair was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members.[12] This prompted Hair to sue the ICC for racial discrimination, since Billy Doctrove, the other umpire at the Oval, has continued to officiate in Tests and full ODIs. However, after Hair withdrew his allegations it was revealed that Hair would stand in ICC Associate Member matches as part of a rehabilitation programme. On March 12, 2008 Hair was confirmed to be back on the Elite Panel.[13] However, on August 22, 2008 Hair handed in his resignation to the ICC in order to take up a coaching role after he was only allowed to officiate in two tests in May and June 2008 between England and New Zealand.[14] He had been an international umpire for 16 years.

[edit] See also

v • d • e
ICC Elite Panel of Umpires
England Benson • New Zealand Bowden • Pakistan Dar • Australia Davis • Sri Lanka de Silva • British West Indies Doctrove • England Gould • Australia Harper • New Zealand Hill • South Africa Koertzen • Pakistan Rauf • Australia Taufel

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b About ICC - Match Officials
  2. ^ ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002
  3. ^ Venkat retires
  4. ^ Shepherd retires
  5. ^ Umpires dropped in 2004
  6. ^ ICC pays tribute to Steve Bucknor as he prepares for retirement in March
  7. ^ Willey declines place on panel
  8. ^ 2003 promotions
  9. ^ 2004 promotion
  10. ^ 2006 promotions
  11. ^ Emirates Sponsorship
  12. ^ Hair banned
  13. ^ Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC
  14. ^ Hair quits to focus on coaching

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Panel_of_ICC_Umpires"