In a game of cricket, where the performance of the batters and bowlers can change the momentum of the match, umpiring can be termed one of the most crucial and toughest jobs on the field. Sometimes, umpires have to make decisions with all the 11 players appealing for a wicket along with the noise of more than 50 thousand people present in the crowd.
One wrong decision by the umpire can change the result of the match and may lead to outrage among the fans. Despite all these consequences, there are some umpires who are known for their perfect decision and can be termed the best umpires in the game. Let’s have a look at the top three greatest umpires of all time in cricket.
3. Aleem Dar
This Pakistani name is quite famous amongst cricket fans all over the world. Aleem Dar is considered the legend of the game even before his retirement. He made his debut in 2000 and is still serving as the umpire. Dar has officiated 125 tests so far and is just three games away from the World Record holder Steve Bucknor.
He is second in the ODI list as well with 200 matches Rudi Koertzen. In T20Is Dar finally tops the chart by standing in 42 games so far. He also put his name in the Elite Panel of the Apex Cricket Council by winning the best umpire award in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Before taking on the umpiring duties in the 1983 World Cup, David Shepherd was the fine batsman of his time in England’s domestic cricket. Shepherd has scored 10,000 plus runs in First-class cricket before retiring as a player in 1979. He made his Test debut during the 1985 Ashes in England.
Shepherd officiated 92 tests and 172 ODIs along with three straight World Cup finals from 1996 to 2003. Unfortunately, Shepherd left after suffering from lung cancer in 2009. The Cricket Council decided to name the Best Umpire Trophy after him.
1. Simon Taufel
The five times winner of the Best Umpire, Simon Taufel started his umpiring career at the age of just 24 in 1999 when he had to give up his cricketing career due to an injury. Taufel made his Test debut during the boxing day Test between Australia and West Indies in 2000. He was famous for his accuracy and sublime decision-making and was quite famous amongst the players and experts.
The Australian has officiated 74 tests, 174 ODIs, and 34 T20s, and was the youngest to reach 100 ODIs at the age of 36. He was the umpire during the final of the 2011 World Cup between India and Sri Lanka. Taufel retired in 2012 at the age of 41 and took on a new challenge in the Cricket Council as Umpire Performance and Training Manager. He won the award for the Best Umpire consecutively from 2004 to 2008.