An umpire is one of any sport’s most important and difficult parts. And in cricket, umpires have a harder time than in any other sport. It takes some talent to judge whether a batsman has hit the ball as far as 22 yards or to give an LBW decision.
But despite the difficulty of their job, umpiring in cricket is not the most popular profession. Even a die-hard cricket fan might struggle to name more than five famous umpires in the history of cricket.
We always aim to appoint the best possible officials, and we have also been able to appoint neutral umpires for all matches. We wish them nothing but the best and are confident they will ensure the matches run smoothly.
And that’s a shame. Despite DRS and various technological advancements, umpires matter a lot in Cricket. One wrong decision can change the game in the wrong direction, so umpires have to be at their best throughout the game.
Umpires are expected to make the right decision every time, regardless of intense pressure from fans or players. The intense focus and decision-making that goes into this profession is rarely seen in any other job.
So, without further ado, look at the 10 best and most famous cricket umpires.
Top 10 Most Famous Umpires in T20 World Cup History
1: Tony Hill
Anthony Lloyd Hill, or Tony Hill to the cricket world, is a former Kiwi umpire. Tony started his umpiring career in 1998 during an ODI match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe. And he has come a long way since then, with over 150 games across all three formats.
The New Zealander made his Test cricket debut in 2001 and his T20 debut in 2005. The ICC often appointed Hill for matches outside New Zealand as a neutral umpire. In 2009, he was appointed to the ICC Elite Panel of umpires.
Despite entering international umpiring with no first-class cricket experience, Hill finished his 15-year career with 64 Tests, 139 ODIs, and 24 T20s. After his retirement in 2013, Hill worked as an umpires coach at New Zealand Cricket.
Tony Hill Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matt: 64:139:24
- Referee: 40:97:17
2: Srinivas Venkatraghavan
Srinivas Venkataraghavan will always be in the history books of Indian cricket as the captain of the first two Cricket World Cups. But if you dig the small scoop, Venkat, as he was commonly called, is also the only Indian umpire to have made it to the ICC Elite Panel of umpires.
Venkat made his umpiring debut in 1993, ten years after he retired from international cricket. He made his ODI and Test debuts during England’s tour to India, officiating India’s matches against England.
Venkat, a quality off-spinner during his playing days, carried his ability to make quick decisions even in umpiring. At the end of his 11-year career in 2004, Venkat had bowled 79 Tests and 78 ODIs. In 2003, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
Srinivas Venkataraghavan stats
- Test Format:ODI: T20
- Matt: 79:78:46
- Referee 73:52:46
3: Daryl Harper
Daryl Harper had an incredible 17-year umpiring career, becoming the first Australian to be included in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2002. The Australian made his first-class umpire debut in 1987 and celebrated his first ODI game in 1994.
Harper made his Test debut in the 1998 Ashes, officiating at the WACA ground – Some way to make a Test debut. The Australian bowled 104 Test matches, 221 ODIs, and 17 T20s.
In 2005, he received the “ICC Bronze Bails Award” for completing 100 ODI games in international cricket. Usually a calm and accurate umpire, Harper came under fire during India vs. West Indies in 2011 and was forced to retire for “performance reasons.”
Daryl Harper Stats
- Test Format:ODI: T20
- Matt: 104:221:17
- Referee: 95:176:10
4: Rudi Koertzen
You may remember the South African referee for his white beard and sunglasses look. But Rudi Koertzen was much more than that. The South African is one of only two umpires in cricket history to have officiated 100+ Test matches and 200+ ODIs.
Koertzen made his international debut in 1992 in ODIs and Tests during India’s tour of South Africa. He also became an original member of the ICC Elite Panel of umpires when it was established in 2002. Koertzen was also known for slowly raising his index finger to condemn a batsman.
The South African played some big games during his career, including India vs Pakistan, The Ashes, the World Cup semi-final, and the Champions Trophy final in 2004 and 2006.
Koertzen has received the ICC bronze, silver, and gold awards and is the only umpire to have received all three. He also became the first umpire to stand in 200 ODIs and eventually finished his career with 206 – the most by any umpire to date. With 128 Tests and 19 T20s, Koertzen undoubtedly had one of the best umpires.
Rudi Koertzen Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matt: 128:250:19
- Referee: 108:209:14
5: Aleem Dar
Another household name among cricket fans and the only active umpire on this list, Aleem Dar, was a legend of the game even before his retirement. The Pakistani referee debuted in 2000 and is still going strong 19 years later.
Dar has so far bowled 125 Tests, just three short of the previous record holder, Steve Bucknor. With 200 ODIs to his name, the Pakistani umpire is second on this list, just behind Rudi Koertzen. But Dar holds the record for the most T20 officiated with 43 total.
The 51-year-old has officiated in the finals of all three ICC tournaments – World Cup, Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup. ICC elite panel member Aleem Dar was the one who broke Simon Taufel’s dominance of the best umpire award when he won the award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The government also awarded him the President’s Pride Award for his performance. Pakistan.
Aleem Dar Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matt: 161:276:63
- Referee: 136:211:53
6: Steve Bucknor
Indians don’t like him very much as he has wrongly given Sachin Tendulkar his marching orders on more than one occasion. And most notably, his involvement in the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ during India’s 2008 tour of Australia.
But take nothing away from Steve Bucknor, who has had a fantastic 20-year refereeing career. The Jamaican will undoubtedly be one of the best umpires in cricket.
Bucknor made his international debut in 1989 and became the first umpire to complete 100 Tests in a career spanning two decades. The Jamaican currently holds the record for most Tests completed.
He also has 181 ODIs, including 44 matches in 5 World Cups. However, his most unique record has to be 5 consecutive World Cup finals between 1992 and 2007. Bucknor received the ICC Bronze and Golden Bails and the Order of Jamaica.
Fun fact: Bucknor also officiated a soccer match as a FIFA referee in 1988 – a World Cup qualifier between El Salvador and the Netherlands Antilles.
Steve Bucknor Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matt: 130:208
- Referee: 128:182
7: Simon Taufel
Although the award for best referee was named after England’s David Shepherd, it was won by Australia’s Simon Taufel. Since the award was established in 2004, Taufel has won five consecutive awards until 2008.
The Australian started umpiring at just 24 years old after he had to give up his cricket career due to an injury. Taufel made his debut in 1999 at the age of 27 and was among the best until his retirement.
He made his Test debut on Boxing Day 2000 in a match between Australia and the West Indies. Known for his accuracy and sublime decision-making, Taufel was well-known among players and pundits.
The Australian bowled 74 Tests, 174 ODIs, and 34 T20s and was the youngest to reach 100 ODIs at 36. But he had to wait until the World Cup in 2011 for the finals of the famous competition due to Australia’s dominance. in previous editions.
Taufel shockingly retired in 2012 at just 41 but took on a new challenge as the ICC’s manager of referee performance and training.
Simon Taufel Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matt: 87:221:42
- Referee: 74:174:34
8: Dickie Bird
Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird – Arguably the best cricket umpire ever! The Englishman was loved by everyone in the cricketing world, fans, detractors, players, and pundits alike during his 23-year umpiring career.
The bird had to give up football due to injury and turned to cricket, where he had a subpar career. The Englishman turned to referee in 1970 and made his international debut in 1973.
Bird bowled 66 Tests and 69 ODIs and earned the respect of even the most hot-headed players on the field with his humor. He was also one of the few referees who had his fans. In a famous incident during the inaugural World Cup, a fan ran onto the field after the game to grab Bird’s hat.
In his last game as an umpire in 1996, India and England formed a “guard of honor” for Dickie Bird. The Englishman received both a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1986 and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012. A statue of a bird raising its forefinger was erected near his birthplace in Barnsley.
Dickie Bird Stats
- Format: Test: ODI: T20
- Matthew 66:69
- Referee: 66:69
9: Billy Bowden
We all know him and love him – the always-entertaining Billy Bowden. The Kiwi umpire is known for his four and six dance signals. And his famously crooked finger to judge a batsman became so famous that it featured in an ad during the 2011 FIFA World Cup.
Bowden made his ODI debut in 1995 during the New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka match at Hamilton. He also became a part of the first ICC Elite Panel in 2002 and was a regular in almost every ICC tournament over the next decade.
The New Zealander retired in 2016 with 84 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 21 T20s. However, his unique style of umpiring will remain in the minds of cricket fans forever.
Billy Bowden Stats
- Format Test: ODI: T20
- Matt 104:259
- Referee 84:200
10: Ian Gould
Ian “Gunner” Gould was a former international cricket umpire who retired in 2019. He played 18 ODIs for England, managing to score only 155 runs. However, he has been a fantastic referee for many years. Arsenal Football Club rejected him for being too small, and he was also involved in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.
Gould celebrated his final ODI at Headingley in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where Virat Kohli gave him a standing ovation.
Ian Gould Stats
- Format Test: ODI
- Matt: 64:92
- Umpire: 66:69
