Cricket is a game that’s played by millions in various parts of the world, but there are only a few who have made it to the top. One of an umpire’s most important roles is to ensure that play is fair and according to the rules.
In this post, we will look at the 10 best cricket umpires ever seen in action, who have officiated hundreds of matches over their careers and came in the top headlines cricket:
Simon Taufel
Taufel was born in Australia on 8th October 1970. He has been an umpire since 1999, and he is a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
He officiated in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, and 2015 Cricket World Cup, alongside his compatriots Daryl Harper and Ian Gould.
David Shepherd
David Shepherd has been a part of the ICC Elite Panel since 1997. He was also one of the first umpires to be inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame in 2013 and has officiated in over 100 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 22 T20 Internationals.
Daryl Harper
Daryl Harper is a former Australian cricketer and umpire. He played in two Tests and 11 ODIs between 1981 and 1984. He umpired in Test matches between 1996 and 2001 and ODIs from 1999 to 2007.
Harper made his international debut at age 19 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 5 October 1981, as an umpire’s assistant for Australia’s second Test against Pakistan. The match ended in a draw after being reduced to one day due to rain. In September 1982 he played against India at Chennai after taking over from John Stephenson who was ill. The match ended with another draw but this time it was due to rain instead of bad light.
Nitin Menon
Nitin Menon is an Indian-born Australian umpire who has officiated in Tests and ODIs. He made his international debut as a first-class umpire in 2003, and he was appointed to the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of Umpires in 2011. In 2013, Menon became only the third Indian-born official to stand in 100 Tests when he stood in India’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Dickie Bird
Dickie Bird, who died aged 81, was one of the greatest empires in history. He was popular with players and spectators alike because he was an honest man who always tried to keep cricket fair.
He was in his 70s when he started his career, which propelled him to the 9th position. He was the oldest umpire to officiate in a test match until then. And yet, he never received any award or recognition for his services as an umpire.
Rudi Koertzen
Rudi Koertzen is a South African cricket umpire, who made his debut as an umpire in 1992. He has officiated in 5 World Cups and 2 ICC Champions Trophies.
He was born on January 4, 1956, in Pretoria, South Africa to parents Lourens (a manager at the Royal Dutch Shell Company) and Cornelia Maria de Klerk-Visser (née Schoeman). He attended Hoërskool Rustenburg where he played rugby union as a flanker before becoming involved with cricket while attending university at Potchefstroom University from 1973 to 1978 where he studied electrical engineering technology and obtained a bachelor’s degree with an honors degree in 1979. He started playing first-class for Leicestershire County Cricket Club when they were still based at Grace Road Stadium; however, he soon left them for Yorkshire County Cricket Club where he spent five seasons before moving back south again – this time joining Northamptonshire County Cricket Club where he stayed until retirement due to injury problems after six years during which time they finished second place twice during his tenure there.”
Steve Bucknor
Steve Bucknor was a legendary umpire who officiated in 100 Test matches. He is the only man to have done so and has been inducted into the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. He retired from Test umpiring in 2011 but continued to stand as an on-field official for ODIs and T20s until 2016.
Bucknor’s most famous moment came during a Test match between South Africa and New Zealand at Durban in 2005 when he incorrectly raised his finger for no ball when New Zealand bowler Chris Martin ran out Alastair Cook off his first ball after tea – something that happened 64 times that season alone!
Billy Bowden
Billy Bowden is a New Zealand cricket umpire, who has officiated in 79 Test matches and 141 ODI matches. He is the most experienced international umpire in the world. He has been an umpire for more than 20 years and is known for his quirky, animated style of umpiring that includes calling a no-ball which is similar to calling a squirrel up from trees (a play on words).
Aleem Dar
Aleem Dar is a Pakistani umpire. He has officiated in more than 100 Tests and he was the first Asian umpire to be appointed to ICC Elite Panel in 2003. Aleem Dar has also umpired in two World Cups and two T20 World Cups, as well as several domestic competitions across all three formats of the game.
David Boon
David Boon is a former Australian cricketer who played as an opening batsman for Tasmania and Victoria. His Test career spanned from 1984 to 1992, with 27 appearances in the list of all-time top ten highest run scorers for Australia. He played his first Test at 21 years old against West Indies in Melbourne on 3 December 1984. He was also named vice-captain of the Australian cricket team from 1988–89 to 1990–91, before retiring after playing one match against Sri Lanka during that period as well.
In addition to being named Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1990), David Boon was inducted into the Tasmanian Sports Hall Of Fame in 1999; received CISM Award (1999); was awarded Australian Sports Medal (2000); inducted into the Tasmanian Cricket Hall Of Fame (2001) times around.”
Conclusion
The ICC Elite Panel of umpires consists of five members and they are Steve Bucknor, Aleem Dar, Daryl Harper, Simon Taufel, and David Boon. A panel is a group of experienced umpires who have been involved in international cricket for a long time and can be trusted to make fair decisions while playing the game.
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