Best Umpire in Cricket History

It ain’t a bed of roses for the umpires to regulate a game of cricket. Firstly, they have to position themselves for long hours at a constant spot. Secondly, a fraction of distraction could lead to an error of judgment that might dictate the outcome of a contest. They often make human errors and are the first to be pointed out for their errors. However, amidst all the criticism and perfection under pressure, a few umpires have been rewarded for their on-field brilliance across formats in International fixtures. This includes several renowned names, who are aware of the game’s nuances inside out, such as Simon Taufel, Richard Kettleborough, Kumar Dharamasena, Aleem Dar, Billy Bowden, etc. 

In this SportsBoom article, we will use a proven data-driven method to analyse the best cricket umpires in the world and rank them based on their excellence and awards received.

Methodology

To determine the best umpire in cricket, we have gathered data from credible sources, which include ESPNCricinfo and Wikipedia. We have tried to consider two major factors – matches officiated and awards won. The two entities would exemplify an umpire’s ability to deliver in high-pressure situations by maintaining the fairness of the game. 

The Awards won by an umpire are given 75% of the weightage as it is a reflection of their brilliance throughout the year. The remaining one-fourth of the weightage is distributed for matches officiated.

1. Simon Taufel

One of the best umpires to have officiated a cricket contest, Simon Taufel, shouldered alongside the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Michael Slater during in school-level encounters. However, his cricketing journey was curtailed by a back injury, leaving him to take up the role of an umpire at the ripe age of 20, purely out of passion for the sport. Fast-track seven years, and Taufel officiated his first ODI game where Gilchrist smashed a century. Two years later, the Aussie made his Test debut as an umpire in the 2000 Boxing Day Test.

With time, Taufel stood out as one of the best umpires in international cricket, earning a spot in the ICC’s Elite Panel in 2003. Despite becoming a full-time umpire at a relatively young age, Taufel earned the ICC Umpire of the Year award for five consecutive years from 2004 to 2008. The prestigious umpire officiated in three World Cups, including the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final, where India doused Sri Lanka at a jam-packed Wankhede Stadium.

One of the fittest at the back end of his umpiring career, Taufel retired at the age of 41. As cricketing schedule began to stack up with the introduction of franchise leagues, the Australian decided to prioritise his family and keep his on-field career as a thing of the past.

2. Aleem Dar

One of the best umpires from Pakistan to regulate a cricket match, Aleem Dar, is another umpire who made early waves in his umpiring career. Although he played the game, representing Pakistan for almost a decade, the leg-spinning all-rounder did not taste much success as a cricketer. 

Dar made his umpiring debut at the age of 32 in 2000 and was a part of the 2003 World Cup. His rise as an umpire was quick and often labelled as the brilliant of the umpire’s lot along with Taufel and Billy Bowden during his time. He was known for making accurate decisions on the cricket field. However, Dar was a part of a controversial call during the 2007 Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and Sri Lanka in the West Indies. As a result, he was aborted from officiating in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20.

Despite his busy umpiring calendar, Dar managed to get time to play club or local cricket. Once, it was learned that the Pakistani middle-order batter scored 82 a day after umpiring in a red-ball international event in Mumbai. His umpiring excellence was rewarded with a membership of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2003.