| Being a cricket umpire is a tough job, but that does | | | | 29. When the ICC implemented the elite panel of |
| not excuse under-performance. Some cricket umpires | | | | umpires, Simon was a certain selection. He won the |
| are better than others are. The role of the umpire is | | | | ICC's Umpire of the Year award for every year |
| to enforce the rules and laws of cricket and to | | | | between 2002 and 2009. |
| ensure that players maintain the spirit of the game. | | | | Even though cricket authorities, commentators and |
| Judging the best umpire goes beyond this; it must | | | | players regard Taufel as the best umpire almost |
| include the respect of peers and recognition by the | | | | unanimously, he is capable of the odd error. However, |
| International Cricket Council (ICC). | | | | he is less likely to make howlers like Sri Lankan |
| Some of the most prominent umpires in recent | | | | umpire Asoka de Silva. Taufel's mistakes are palpable |
| cricket history include Harold "Dickie" Bird, David | | | | and usually defensible. Taufel does not court |
| Shepherd, Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel. What | | | | controversy as his compatriot and fellow umpire, |
| set these umpires apart were their decision-making | | | | Darrell Hair, was inclined to do. |
| ability and the respect that they earned from | | | | Taufel's level of fitness is an important attribute that |
| captains and players. | | | | enables him to concentrate for long periods. Born in |
| The best cricket umpire must be one who officiated | | | | 1971, Taufel was the youngest elite umpire- making |
| in recent times, where technology was available to | | | | his exponential rise to the top of the umpiring ladder |
| scrutinize their decisions. The top umpires mentioned | | | | even more remarkable. He may even have officiated |
| have officiated in high-profile games and after 1995- | | | | in the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup finals if |
| where TV broadcasters used technology to enhance | | | | Australia did not earn a berth on those two |
| television coverage and assist the third umpire. | | | | occasions. |
| In the old days, assessing an umpire was difficult as | | | | Other umpires like Steve Bucknor and David |
| there were no replays or even television coverage. In | | | | Shepherd were good, but they made several howlers |
| the modern era, there are replays and even decision | | | | towards the end of their career- tainting their |
| aids like 'Hawkeye' and 'Snickometer' that | | | | reputations a bit. Harold Bird last umpired an |
| commentators use to assess umpiring decisions. The | | | | international match in 1996- when the technology |
| best umpire would be one whose decisions were | | | | used to scrutinize umpires' decisions was not as |
| generally spot-on, even under the intense scrutiny of | | | | advanced. Simon Taufel officiated in many |
| modern technology. | | | | international matches and still maintained over 97% |
| Simon Taufel of Australia is the best umpire in | | | | accuracy with his decisions. He is the best modern |
| modern cricket. He is young, prudent and has the | | | | umpire by some distance. Given the significant |
| respect and admiration of players and management | | | | pressure on modern cricket umpires, Simon Taufel |
| teams. Taufel began umpiring at international level in | | | | may be the best cricket umpire of all time. |
| Boxing Day Test against in Australia- at the age of | | | | |