5 Most Loved Cricket Umpires Of All-Time

Umpires are the authorities who take decisions on the field. The umpires are tasked to check the legality of a delivery, dismissals, judge a boundary or six, a white or no-ball, in fact every aspects related to cricket. They are a crucial part of cricket match. While cricketing history has seen many umpires been criticised for their wrong decisions, there were a few who were loved by the fans for their conduct on the field.

5. Aleem Dar

Aleem Dar was a first-class cricketer before being a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. He has set the record for most Tests as an umpire. Aleem Dar is known for is error free decision making and hardly creates any chaos on the field with his fine, reliable judgement. As a result, Dar, from Pakistan, has clinched the best umpire for three years in a row. After he clinched the award in 2009, he broke Simon Taufel’s run of five successive awards. Dar has also been rewarded by the Pakistan government with the President’s award for Pride of Performance.

4. Kumar Dharmasena

Errors are a part and parcel of the game and Kumar Dharmasena certainly made a huge one in the 2019 World Cup final. He, however, remains one of the few loved umpires on the field due to his bodylanguage which is of any humble Sri Lankan. He was a Sri Lankan all-rounder before taking up the role as an umpire.

Dharmasena was a part of the umpiring panel in 2011 World Cup and was later named in the 2011 World Cup. Later he was named in the list of elite umpires. He was named the ummpire of the year in 2012 and also stood in the final of 2016 World T20.

3. Billy Bowden

Billy Bowden was a loved umpire due to his antics. He had his own signature style of gesturing a decision. The Kiwi started his umpiring career in 1995. In 2002, he was named in the Emirates Panel of Umpires. He was the fourth umpire in the 2003 World Cup between India and Australia and later promoted to the elite panel of umpires list. He was the youngest to officiate in 100 ODIs before Simon Taufel broke that record.

2. Simon Taufel

Simon Taufel was a calm head and a young umpire who retired young. In fact, he was the youngest to officiate 100 ODIs in history of cricket. He had no intentions of becoming of an umpire but incidentally agreed to friend who wanted to take up the course.

Taufel clinched the top umpire honours for five times in a row. In 2006, he was ranked second only behind Darrell Hair for his accuracy in decision making. After stepping down from the elite panel of umpires, he took up a role as Umpire Performance and Training Manager.

1. David Shepherd

David Shepherd set the benchmark for umpiring, he was the finest, most loved and respected umpires of all-time. The ICC has named the David Shepherd trophy after his name as an annual award for the best umpire of the year.

Shepherd was the part of 1983 World Cup umpiring panel. He was a jolly character and everyone liked him on and off the field. The legendary umpire was given a guard of honour by Australia and New Zealand teams. Brian Lara gave him an autographed bat in June 2005.

He was awarded the MBE for his serviced to the sport in 1987 and became the president for his club Devon.