The Top Umpires of all time

bullseye · 05-09-2009, 04:36 AM

We all know that the result of a match primarily depends on a team that either Bats, Bowls, Fields or is Led better or could be a combination of these.

But there is also one other vital factor that plays a key role in the outcome of a match.

That is Umpiring.

Back in the olden days we hade only Home Umpires officiating matches and instinctively or unconsciously a few decisions went in favor with of home team which resulted in bad taste.

With the advent of Neutral Umpires, generally speaking, there is now less controversial decisions .

We still have wrong decisions as Umpires like any of us are also human and will make mistakes . Bt the margin of error is much less than before. Also with introduction of Third Umpire Referrals life has become much easier now.

Nowadays Umpires can refer cases of Run Outs, Stumpings, unsure boundary, Over boundary shots to name a few to the Third Umpire.

So having said all these lets figure out the performance of some of the of best umpires to have officiated Test or One day Cricket.

Reader’s can choose up to five.

Here is my take:

1.Dickie Bird (England)
2.Simon Taufel (Australia)
3.David Shepherd (England)
4.Aleem Dar(Pakistan)
5.Rudi Koertzen(SouthAfrica)

What’s Reader’s selection?

Who’s next?

Good Luck to everyone!

Zinzan · 05-09-2009, 04:44 AM

H Bird & S Taufel are the best 2 I've seen

kingkallis · 05-09-2009, 05:28 AM

Venkat was a good umpire as well...

Dissector · 05-09-2009, 10:06 AM

I believe Frank Chester was rated the best umpire by Don Bradman. Of course he umpired at a time before tv replays when only players could evaluate the quality of umpiring.

andyc · 05-09-2009, 10:22 AM

Obviously wasn't really around to see Dickie Bird, but was his reputation built out of being a character, or a good umpire? Thought he was fairly reluctant to give lbws.

fredfertang · 05-09-2009, 10:30 AM

You certainly couldn't accuse Dickie of being trigger happy but its impossible to compare umpires because the technology to "prove" their mistakes hasn't been around long - also its not that many years ago when the commentators never openly criticised - if there was what appeared to be a bad decision the most controversial comment you'd get would be "X may have been a little (un)fortunate there"

grecian · 05-09-2009, 10:46 AM

Dickie Bird was a shockingly bad "not out " umpire IMHO. If he was umpiring on today's flatter pitches there'd be scores of 600 every innings. Hated it when he was umpiring

Mind you he was consistent for both sides so he was top-class in that way.

Agree with fredfertang, very hard to judge todays umps with yesteryears because of the technology available now.

Lillian Thomson · 05-09-2009, 11:14 AM

Despite the apparent catalogue of errors in Test Matches these days the standard of umpiring has never been better. Dickie Bird was the best of his day but that's not saying much. Even he wouldn't stand up to the endless scrutiny that umpires today are subjected to. One man worthy of mention from the recentish past is Tony Crafter who was as near to a good Australian umpire as you could get in those days.
Simon Taufel is an amazing man - the Don Bradman of umpiring.

gnieraw · 05-09-2009, 11:22 AM

Bird and Tauffel

Isura · 05-09-2009, 11:45 AM

Today's umpires are much better than any umpires in the past. They undergo more rigorous training and scrutiny, and rarely make terrible decisions

BoyBrumby · 05-09-2009, 12:12 PM

Think old Dickie's a bit overrated because he was such a loveable character. Knew where you stood with him, but he'd have to alter his LBW criteria nowadays.

Uppercut · 05-09-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillian Thomson

Simon Taufel is an amazing man - the Don Bradman of umpiring.

Yeah, agree with this. It's almost at the stage where your train of thought goes, "hey, that looks out!... ... Nah, Taufel didn't give it, must have been slipping down leg."

Smudge · 05-09-2009, 06:56 PM

Why do I need good luck to select my top umpires?

The only umpire that needed more luck was Peter Plumley Walker.

benchmark00 · 03-12-2010, 07:18 AM

Used to be very critical of Aleem Dar due to his submissive body language, but he has seriously impressed me with his decision making. Would rate him the best in the world aws.

smalishah84 · 03-12-2010, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillian Thomson

s.
Simon Taufel is an amazing man - the Don Bradman of umpiring.

No doubt Simon is amazing but no Bradman of the umpires. It is quite close between him and Aleem Dar IMO. Aleem Dar is awesome and you go and check out a video Shane Warne vs Aleem Dar on youtube. The guy is really amazing

05-09-2009, 04:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
bullseye School Boy/Girl Captain Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 142	The Top Umpires of all time We all know that the result of a match primarily depends on a team that either Bats, Bowls, Fields or is Led better or could be a combination of these. But there is also one other vital factor that plays a key role in the outcome of a match. That is Umpiring. Back in the olden days we hade only Home Umpires officiating matches and instinctively or unconsciously a few decisions went in favor with of home team which resulted in bad taste. With the advent of Neutral Umpires, generally speaking, there is now less controversial decisions . We still have wrong decisions as Umpires like any of us are also human and will make mistakes . Bt the margin of error is much less than before. Also with introduction of Third Umpire Referrals life has become much easier now. Nowadays Umpires can refer cases of Run Outs, Stumpings, unsure boundary, Over boundary shots to name a few to the Third Umpire. So having said all these lets figure out the performance of some of the of best umpires to have officiated Test or One day Cricket. Reader’s can choose up to five. Here is my take: 1.Dickie Bird (England) 2.Simon Taufel (Australia) 3.David Shepherd (England) 4.Aleem Dar(Pakistan) 5.Rudi Koertzen(SouthAfrica) What’s Reader’s selection? Who’s next? Good Luck to everyone!

05-09-2009, 05:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
kingkallis International Captain Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: India Posts: 5,713	Venkat was a good umpire as well... __________________ CricZo XI - Draft League Season 1 M Hayden, G Gooch, R Dravid, W Hammond, K Pietersen, G Sobers, R Marsh (wk), R Benaud (c), D Steyn, W Hall, N Adcock Season 2 J Hobbs, B Richards, D Boon, H Taylor, C Lloyd (c), A Stewart (wk), T Goddard, A Davidson, H Tayfield, C Ambrose, H Griffith Season 3 H Sutcliffe, M Hayden, I Chappell (c), G Pollock, A Faulkner, M Hussey, D Lindsay (wk), I Botham, A Kumble, M Marshall, D Lillee

05-09-2009, 10:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
grecian International Coach Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hanging on ! Posts: 11,274	Dickie Bird was a shockingly bad "not out " umpire IMHO. If he was umpiring on today's flatter pitches there'd be scores of 600 every innings. Hated it when he was umpiring Mind you he was consistent for both sides so he was top-class in that way. Agree with fredfertang, very hard to judge todays umps with yesteryears because of the technology available now. __________________ Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes. Walt Whitman Last edited by grecian; 05-09-2009 at 11:30 AM.

05-09-2009, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lillian Thomson International Captain Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: england Posts: 5,638	Despite the apparent catalogue of errors in Test Matches these days the standard of umpiring has never been better. Dickie Bird was the best of his day but that's not saying much. Even he wouldn't stand up to the endless scrutiny that umpires today are subjected to. One man worthy of mention from the recentish past is Tony Crafter who was as near to a good Australian umpire as you could get in those days. Simon Taufel is an amazing man - the Don Bradman of umpiring. __________________ Not now Maud, I am sprinkling the man in the tent.

05-09-2009, 12:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,613	Think old Dickie's a bit overrated because he was such a loveable character. Knew where you stood with him, but he'd have to alter his LBW criteria nowadays. __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

05-09-2009, 04:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zinzan Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cover point Posts: 9,734	H Bird & S Taufel are the best 2 I've seen

05-09-2009, 10:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dissector International Debutant Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: India Posts: 2,101	I believe Frank Chester was rated the best umpire by Don Bradman. Of course he umpired at a time before tv replays when only players could evaluate the quality of umpiring.

05-09-2009, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
fredfertang Cricket Web Staff Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: high dudgeon Posts: 9,715	You certainly couldn't accuse Dickie of being trigger happy but its impossible to compare umpires because the technology to "prove" their mistakes hasn't been around long - also its not that many years ago when the commentators never openly criticised - if there was what appeared to be a bad decision the most controversial comment you'd get would be "X may have been a little (un)fortunate there"

05-09-2009, 11:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
gnieraw Cricket Spectator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Worplesdon UK Posts: 13	Bird and Tauffel

05-09-2009, 11:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
Isura U19 Debutant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 385	Today's umpires are much better than any umpires in the past. They undergo more rigorous training and scrutiny, and rarely make terrible decisions

05-09-2009, 06:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Smudge Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wellywood Posts: 16,551	Why do I need good luck to select my top umpires? The only umpire that needed more luck was Peter Plumley Walker. __________________ What do you mean?

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