Elite Panel of ICC Umpires

Summary

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 were 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 is revised every year by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel.

History edit

The panel was formed in 2002 with eight members.[2] 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.[3] The last members of the original panel retired in 2011. The original eight panel members were: Steve Bucknor, Daryl Harper, Ashoka de Silva, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Rudi Koertzen, Dave Orchard, David Shepherd and Russell Tiffin.

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 officials 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 sponsors the panel, and the umpires are required to wear shirts and coats which have 'Fly Emirates' printed on them whenever they are officiating.[4]

In July 2019, Michael Gough and Joel Wilson were added to the Elite panel following the retirement of Ian Gould and exclusion of Sundaram Ravi after the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[5] On 16 March 2023, Ahsan Raza and Adrian Holdstock joined the panel after Aleem Dar stepped down from the panel.[6]

In March 2024, Sharfuddoula was added to the Elite Panel after South African umpire Marais Erasmus retired from umpiring in international cricket and thus Sharfuddoula became the first umpire from Bangladesh to be included in this panel.[7]

As of 28 March 2024, Australia and England have jointly provided the most panel members with seven. South Africa with four, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and West Indies have provided three; Sri Lanka has provided two; Zimbabwe and Bangladesh has provided just one member. No members have featured from Afghanistan and Ireland, among the Full members.

Current members edit

As of 28 March 2024 cricket season the Elite Panel consists of:[8][9][10][11]

List of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
Umpire Date of Birth Age as of 28 March 2024 Year Appointed Tests[12] ODIs[13] T20Is[14] Country
Rod Tucker 28 August 1964 59 years, 213 days 2010 83 102 52   Australia
Kumar Dharmasena 24 April 1971 52 years, 339 days 2011 81 127 42   Sri Lanka
Richard Kettleborough 15 March 1973 51 years, 13 days 2011 80 106 36   England
Richard Illingworth 23 August 1963 60 years, 176 days 2013 66 90 27   England
Paul Reiffel 19 April 1966 57 years, 344 days 2013 65 88 27   Australia
Chris Gaffaney 30 November 1975 48 years, 150 days 2015 51 86 43   New Zealand
Michael Gough 18 December 1979 44 years, 101 days 2019 33 85 22   England
Joel Wilson 30 December 1966 57 years, 89 days 2019 38 92 43   West Indies
Nitin Menon 2 November 1983 40 years, 147 days 2020 21 58 41   India
Ahsan Raza 29 May 1974 49 years, 304 days 2023 11 53 74   Pakistan
Adrian Holdstock 27 April 1970 53 years, 336 days 2023 9 59 50   South Africa
Sharfuddoula 16 October 1976 47 years, 164 days 2024 10 61 43   Bangladesh

Former members edit

The first departures from the panel came in 2004 when Srinivas Venkataraghavan (known as Venkat) retired,[15] and Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed.[16] David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire.[17] 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.[18] In March 2008, following a spell officiating associate members, Hair was once again permitted to umpire full members,[19] but in August he handed in his resignation after he was only allowed to officiate in two Tests.[20]

Steve Bucknor retired in 2009, having stood in a then record 128 Tests since March 1989.[21] Rudi Koertzen retired in 2010,[22] while Mark Benson, who had joined the panel in 2006, stood down to return to domestic cricket.[23] Asoka de Silva, who rejoined the panel in 2008, was stood down again in 2011 along with Daryl Harper,[24] Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove retired in 2012[25] and Steve Davis retired in 2015. Sundaram Ravi was dropped from the panel after 2019 Cricket World Cup.[26] Ian Gould retired from the panel after the 2019 World Cup.[27] Bruce Oxenford retired from the panel in 2021.[28]

Former elite panel members can still umpire in ODIs and international T20s. Statistics correct as of 31 January 2021.

  • † Original panel member
List of Former members of Elite Panel of ICC Umpires
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
Billy Bowden 11 April 1967 2003 2015 84 200 21   New Zealand
Steve Davis 9 April 1952 2008 2015 57 137 26   Australia
Ian Gould 19 August 1957 2009 2019 73 135 37   England
Sundaram Ravi 22 April 1966 2010 2019 33 48 18   India
Nigel Llong 11 February 1969 2012 2020 62 130 32   England
Bruce Oxenford 5 March 1960 2012 2021 62 97 20   Australia
Aleem Dar 6 June 1968 2004 2023 139 210 46   Pakistan
Marais Erasmus 27 February 1964 2010 2024 81 124 43   South Africa

^de Silva was absent from the panel between 2004 and 2008.

Records edit

Test matches edit

Most Test matches as an umpire:[29]

Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total
  Aleem Dar 2003–2023 144 27 171
  Steve Bucknor 1989–2009 128 2 130
  Rudi Koertzen 1992–2010 108 20 128
  Daryl Harper 1996–2011 95 9 104
  David Shepherd 1985–2005 92 0 92
Last updated: 19 March 2023

ODI matches edit

Most ODI matches as an umpire:[30]

Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total
  Aleem Dar 2003–present 231 68 299
  Rudi Koertzen 1992–2010 209 41 250
  Billy Bowden 1995–2016 200 59 259
  Steve Bucknor 1989–2009 181 26 207
  Daryl Harper 1994–2011 174 45 219
Last updated: 19 March 2023

T20I matches edit

Most T20I matches as an umpire:[31]

Umpire Period Matches TV Umpire Total
  Ahsan Raza 2010–present 74 23 97
  Aleem Dar 2009–present 70 18 88
  Allahudien Paleker 2010–present 59 8 67
  Rod Tucker 2006–2022 52 25 77
  Langton Rusere 2015–present 56 17 73
Last updated: 19 March 2023

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b About ICC – Match Officials Archived 1 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002
  3. ^ "Shepherd takes lone stand". BBC Sport. 12 March 2002. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ^ Emirates Sponsorship
  5. ^ "Michael Gough, Joel Wilson added to ICC Elite umpires panel; S Ravi omitted". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Aleem Dar ends 19-year old career as Elite Panel Umpire". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel". www.icc-cricket.com. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Sharfuddoula becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to be included in the ICC Elite Panel". ICC. 28 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Elite Panel of ICC Umpires". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Nitin Menon included in Elite Panel for 2020-21". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Adrian Holdstock, Ahsan Raza join ICC Elite Panel of Umpires as Aleem Dar steps down". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Test records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  13. ^ "ODI records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  14. ^ "T20I records – Most matches umpired". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Venkat announces retirement date". ESPNcricinfo. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Two new Umpires graduate to Emirates Eilte Panel, three Umpires not offered new contracts". ESPNcricinfo. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  17. ^ Long, Jon (12 May 2005). "David Shepherd to retire from international cricket in Nelson's anniversary year". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  18. ^ Hair banned
  19. ^ Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC
  20. ^ Hair quits to focus on coaching
  21. ^ Coverdale, Brydon (18 March 2009). "128 and done". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  22. ^ Umpire Rudi Koertzen set to retire
  23. ^ Umpire Mark Benson retires from ICC elite panel
  24. ^ Harper, de Silva removed from Elite Panel
  25. ^ Billy Doctrove retires from international cricket
  26. ^ "India's S Ravi set to be axed from ICC Elite Panel of Umpires". Hindustan Times. May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Umpire Oxenford to retire from international cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Most matches as an umpire: Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  30. ^ "Most matches as an umpire: ODI". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  31. ^ "Most matches as an umpire: T20I". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 June 2012.

External links edit

  • ICC match officials