Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
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 a Test match and one of the umpires in a One-day international are now independent of the competing nations, whereas before 2002 just one of the umpires in a Test was independent and in ODIs both umpires 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] The list of umpires in the panel are revised every year by the ICC umpires selection panel and the current panel consists of ICC general manager Geoff Allardice, chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, former umpires David Lloyd and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.[2]
History
The panel was formed in 2002 with eight members.[3] 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.[4] The last members of the original panel were removed in 2011. 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 an independent 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. 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.[5]
Current members
As of the 2016/17 cricket season the Elite Panel consists of:[6]
Umpire | Date of Birth | Age as of 22 November 2024 | Year Appointed | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Illingworth | 23 August 1963 | 61 years, 49 days | 2013 | 19 | 44 | 11 | England |
Bruce Oxenford | 5 March 1960 | 64 years, 262 days | 2012 | 31 | 72 | 17 | Australia |
Aleem Dar | 6 June 1968 | 56 years, 169 days | 2004 | 101 | 178 | 41 | Pakistan |
Ian Gould | 19 August 1957 | 67 years, 95 days | 2009 | 49 | 114 | 37 | England |
Marais Erasmus | 27 February 1964 | 60 years, 269 days | 2010 | 35 | 62 | 26 | South Africa |
Rod Tucker | 28 August 1964 | 60 years, 86 days | 2010 | 43 | 64 | 35 | Australia |
Kumar Dharmasena | 24 April 1971 | 53 years, 212 days | 2011 | 35 | 68 | 17 | Sri Lanka |
Richard Kettleborough | 15 March 1973 | 51 years, 252 days | 2011 | 33 | 57 | 17 | England |
Nigel Llong | 11 February 1969 | 55 years, 285 days | 2012 | 35 | 98 | 27 | England |
Paul Reiffel | 19 April 1966 | 58 years, 217 days | 2013 | 22 | 41 | 13 | Australia |
Sundaram Ravi | 22 April 1966 | 58 years, 214 days | 2015 | 10 | 25 | 12 | India |
Chris Gaffaney | 30 November 1975 | 49 years, 23 days | 2015 | 7 | 46 | 20 | New Zealand |
Former members
The first departures from the panel came in 2004 when Srinivas Venkataraghavan (known as Venkat) retired,[7] and Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed.[8] David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire.[9] Darrell Hair, who joined the panel in 2003, was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members following the Ball tampering controversy in August 2006.[10] In March 2008, following a spell officiating associate members, Hair was once again permitted to umpire full members,[11] but in August he handed in his resignation after he was only allowed to officiate in two tests.[12]
Steve Bucknor retired in 2009, having stood in a record 128 Tests since March 1989.[13] Rudi Koertzen retired in 2010,[14] while Mark Benson, who had joined the panel in 2006, stood down to return to domestic cricket.[15] Asoka de Silva, who rejoined the panel in 2008, was stood down again in 2011 along with Daryl Harper,[16] Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove retired in 2012[17] and Steve Davis retired in 2015.
Former elite panel members can still umpire in ODIs and international T20s. Statistics correct as of 7 June 2012.
- † Original panel member
Umpire | Date of Birth | Joined Panel | Left Panel | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Bucknor † | 31 May 1946 | 2002 | 2009 | 128 | 181 | — | West Indies |
Asoka de Silva^ † | 28 March 1956 | 2002 | 2011 | 49 | 121 | 11 | Sri Lanka |
Daryl Harper † | 23 October 1951 | 2002 | 2011 | 94 | 174 | 10 | Australia |
Rudi Koertzen † | 26 March 1949 | 2002 | 2010 | 108 | 206 | 14 | South Africa |
Dave Orchard † | 24 June 1948 | 2002 | 2004 | 44 | 107 | — | South Africa |
David Shepherd † | 27 December 1940 | 2002 | 2005 | 92 | 172 | — | England |
Russell Tiffin † | 4 June 1959 | 2002 | 2004 | 44 | 126 | 4 | Zimbabwe |
Srinivas Venkataraghavan † | 21 April 1945 | 2002 | 2004 | 73 | 52 | — | India |
Darrell Hair | 30 September 1952 | 2003 | 2008 | 78 | 135 | 6 | Australia |
Billy Doctrove | 3 July 1955 | 2006 | 2012 | 38 | 112 | 17 | West Indies |
Mark Benson | 6 July 1958 | 2006 | 2010 | 27 | 72 | 19 | England |
Simon Taufel | 21 January 1971 | 2003 | 2012 | 74 | 174 | 34 | Australia |
Tony Hill | 26 June 1951 | 2009 | 2014 | 40 | 96 | 17 | New Zealand |
Asad Rauf | 12 May 1956 | 2006 | 2013 | 47 | 98 | 23 | Pakistan |
Brent (Billy) Bowden | 11 April 1967 | 2003 | 2015 | 84 | 195 | 21 | New Zealand |
Steve Davis | April 9, 1952 | 2008 | 2015 | 57 | 137 | 26 | Australia |
^de Silva was absent from the panel between 2004 and 2008.
Records
Most Test matches as an umpire:[18]
Umpire | Period | Matches |
---|---|---|
Steve Bucknor | 1989–2009 | 128 |
Rudi Koertzen | 1992–2010 | 108 |
Aleem Dar | 2003–2016 | 101 |
Most ODI matches as an umpire:[19]
Umpire | Period | Matches |
---|---|---|
Rudi Koertzen | 1992–2010 | 209 |
Billy Bowden | 1995–2016 | 198 |
Steve Bucknor | 1989–2009 | 181 |
Most T20I matches as an umpire:[20]
Umpire | Period | Matches |
---|---|---|
Aleem Dar | 2009–2014 | 41 |
Simon Taufel | 2007–2012 | 34 |
Ian Gould | 2006–2014 | 29 |
Nigel Llong | 2005–2015 | 27 |
Rod Tucker | 2009–2014 | 23 |
Marais Erasmus | 2006–2014 | 20 |
See also
- Panel of ICC Referees
- ICC International umpire panel
- List of Test umpires
- ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpire Panel
References
- ^ a b About ICC – Match Officials
- ^ "S Ravi and Chris Gaffaney in Elite Panel". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002
- ^ Willey declines place on panel
- ^ Emirates Sponsorship
- ^ "ICC retains elite panel of umpires for 2016-17 season". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ Venkat retires
- ^ Umpires dropped in 2004
- ^ Shepherd retires
- ^ Hair banned
- ^ Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC
- ^ Hair quits to focus on coaching
- ^ ICC pays tribute to Steve Bucknor as he prepares for retirement in March
- ^ Umpire Rudi Koertzen set to retire
- ^ Umpire Mark Benson retires from ICC elite panel
- ^ Harper, de Silva removed from Elite Panel
- ^ Billy Doctrove retires from international cricket
- ^ "Most matches as an umpire: Test". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Most matches as an umpire: ODI". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Most matches as an umpire: T20I". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.