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 12 Tests and 15 ODIs each year.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Current members
| Umpire | Date of Birth | Age as at 14 June 2008 | Tests | ODIs | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleem Dar | 6 June 1968 | 40 years, 8 days | 47 | 108 |  Pakistan |
| Asad Rauf | 12 May 1956 | 52 years, 33 days | 19 | 51 | Pakistan |
| Mark Benson | 6 July 1958 | 49 years, 344 days | 21 | 61 |  England |
| Brent 'Billy' Bowden | 11 April 1963 | 45 years, 64 days | 46 | 124 |  New Zealand |
| Steve Bucknor | 31 May 1946 | 62 years, 14 days | 123 | 172 |  West Indies |
| Steve Davis | 9 April 1952 | 56 years, 66 days | 11 | 71 |  Australia |
| Asoka de Silva | 28 March 1956 | 52 years, 78 days | 33 | 76 |  Sri Lanka |
| Billy Doctrove | 3 July 1955 | 52 years, 347 days | 17 | 73 | West Indies |
| Darrell Hair | 30 September 1952 | 55 years, 258 days | 77 | 135 | Australia |
| Daryl Harper | 23 October 1951 | 56 years, 235 days | 71 | 150 | Australia |
| Rudi Koertzen | 26 March 1949 | 59 years, 80 days | 90 | 190 |  South Africa |
| Simon Taufel | 21 January 1971 | 37 years, 145 days | 53 | 124 | Australia |
[edit] Scheduled appointments
- New Zealand in England
| Match | Date | Venue | Umpire | Umpire | 3rd Umpire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Test | 5-9 June | Nottingham (Trent Bridge) | Steve Bucknor | Darrell Hair | Peter Hartley |
| T20I | 13 June | Manchester (Old Trafford) | Ian Gould | Peter Hartley | Richard Kettleborough |
| 1st ODI | 15 June | Durham (Riverside) | Steve Davis | Nigel Llong | Peter Hartley |
| 2nd ODI | 18 June | Birmingham (Edgbaston) | Steve Davis | Ian Gould | Nigel Llong |
| 3rd ODI | 21 June | Bristol | Steve Davis | Peter Hartley | Ian Gould |
| 4th ODI | 25 June | London (The Oval) | Steve Davis | Mark Benson | Richard Kettleborough |
| 5th ODI | 28 June | London (Lord's) | Steve Davis | Ian Gould | Nigel Llong |
- Australia in West Indies
| Match | Date | Venue | Umpire | Umpire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Test | 30May-3Jn | Antigua (North Sound) | Mark Benson | Russell Tiffin |
| 3rd Test | 12-15 June | Barbados (Kensington Oval) | Aleem Dar | Mark Benson |
| T20I | 20 June | Barbados (Kensington Oval) | Local Official | Local Official |
| 1st ODI | 24 June | St. Vincent (Kingstown) | Asad Rauf | Local Official |
| 2nd ODI | 27 June | Grenada (St. Georges) | Asad Rauf | Local Official |
| 3rd ODI | 29 June | Grenada (St. Georges) | Asad Rauf | Local Official |
| 4th ODI | 4 July | St. Kitts (Basseterre) | Asad Rauf | Local Official |
| 5th ODI | 6 July | St. Kitts (Basseterre) | Asad Rauf | Local Official |
Asoka de Silva has been appointed to the Tri Series in Bangladesh - June 2008.
[edit] Original Panel
When the panel was formed in 2002 it comprised:[3]
- Steve Bucknor
- Asoka de Silva
- Daryl Harper
- Rudi Koertzen
- Dave Orchard
- David Shepherd
- Russell Tiffin
- Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan (Venkat)
Since then Venkat retired in 2004 [4], and David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire.[5] Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed in 2004.[6] De Silva was subsequently re-included on the panel in April 2008.
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.[8] 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 [9], Aleem Dar in 2004 [10], while Mark Benson, Billy Doctrove and Asad Rauf became members in 2006.[11] Steve Davis became a member on the panel in 2008.
[edit] Sponsorship
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.[12]
[edit] Darrell Hair
Following the Ball Tampering Controversy in August 2006 Darrell Hair was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members.[13] 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 will stand in ICC Associate Member matches as part of a rehabilitation programme. In March 2008 the ICC Board will decide whether to allow Hair to umpire full member matches again, or to remove him from the panel.[14]
On March 12, 2008 Hair was confirmed to be back on the Elite Panel
[edit] References
- ^ ICC's Synopsis of Elite Panel
- ^ Latest appointments
- ^ ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002
- ^ Venkat retires
- ^ Shepherd retires
- ^ Umpires dropped in 2004
- ^ Willey declines place on panel
- ^ International Panel Duties
- ^ 2003 promotions
- ^ 2004 promotion
- ^ 2006 promotions
- ^ Emirates Sponsorship
- ^ Hair banned
- ^ Hair future
