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 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. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/umpires-referees/umpires.html ICC's Synopsis of Elite Panel] ]

Current members

Scheduled appointments

India Test series match referee – Chris Broad

9-13 October – India v Australia (Test), Bangalore – Rudi Koertzen and Asad Rauf

17-21 October – India v Australia (Test), Mohali – Rudi Koertzen and Asad Rauf

29 October – 2 November – India v Australia (Test), New Delhi – Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar 6-10 November – India v Australia, (Test), Nagpur – Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar

Bangladesh Series match referee – Javagal Srinath

9 October – Bangladesh v New Zealand (ODI), Mirpur, Daryl Harper and local appointment

11 October – Bangladesh v New Zealand (ODI), Mirpur, Daryl Harper and local appointment

14 October – Bangladesh v New Zealand (ODI), Chittagong, Daryl Harper and local appointment 17-21 October – Bangladesh v New Zealand (Test), Chittagong, Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva

25-29 October – Bangladesh v New Zealand (Test), Chittagong, Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva

[ [http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/about-icc/latest-appointments.html Latest appointments] ]

Original Panel

When the panel was formed in 2002 it comprised: [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/118773.html ICC's Announcement of Elite Panel in 2002] ]
*Steve Bucknor
*Asoka de Silva
*Daryl Harper
*Rudi Koertzen
*Dave Orchard
*David Shepherd
*Russell Tiffin
*Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan (Venkat)

Since then Venkat retired in 2004 [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/136484.html Venkat retires] ] , and David Shepherd retired in 2005 following 22 years as an international umpire. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/209151.html Shepherd retires] ] Asoka de Silva, Dave Orchard and Russell Tiffin did not have their contracts renewed in 2004. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/136519.html Umpires dropped in 2004] ] 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. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/118773.html Willey declines place on panel] ]

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. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/umpires-referees/international.html International Panel Duties] ] 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 [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/123862.html 2003 promotions] ] , Aleem Dar in 2004 [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/136519.html 2004 promotion] ] , while Mark Benson, Billy Doctrove and Asad Rauf became members in 2006. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/243588.html 2006 promotions] ] Steve Davis became a member on the panel in 2008.

ponsorship

sponsors the panel, and the umpires are required to wear shirts and coats which have 'Fly Emirates' printed on them whenever they are officiating. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/116864.html Emirates Sponsorship] ]

Darrell Hair

Following the Ball Tampering Controversy in August 2006 Darrell Hair was banned from officiating in matches involving full ICC members. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/266878.html Hair banned] ] 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 122008 Hair was confirmed to be back on the Elite Panel. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/343055.html Darrell Hair reinstated by ICC] ] However, on August 222008 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. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/365890.html Hair quits to focus on coaching] ] He had been an international umpire for 16 years.

References

ee also

*Panel of ICC Referees
*ICC International umpire panel

External links

* [http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/about-icc/match-officials.html ICC match officials]