Cricket Australia (CA) today advised that former Australian fast bowler Paul Reiffel has been promoted to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Reiffel’s elevation to the Panel following his performances as a member of the International Panel of ICC Umpires and several strong seasons as one of the leading umpires in Australia. Reiffel joins fellow Australians Rod Tucker, Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis, on the Panel of 12 umpires.
Reiffel was promoted to the International Panel of ICC Umpires ahead of the 2008-09 season and his progression from international player through to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires is further evidence of CA’s commitment to developing quality match officials and to providing opportunities for past players to continue their involvement in cricket following retirement.
Speaking about Reiffel’s promotion, CA’s Senior Manager – Cricket Operations Sean Cary said: “Paul Reiffel’s elevation to the Panel continues Australia’s proud history of producing quality umpires and is evidence of the strength of Australian umpiring.”
“Paul has worked hard to progress through the levels of umpiring since he retired from international and first-class cricket and his development is further endorsement of Australia’s umpiring pathways.
“We would like to congratulate Paul on this achievement and we wish him well as he continues his international umpiring career,” Cary said.
Reiffel and fellow Elite Panel of ICC Umpires member Tucker were the two pioneer participants in CA’s Project Panel Umpires program when it was introduced in 2002-03. The program is designed for retired first-class cricketers who are looking to embark on a career as a professional umpire and aims to keep them involved in the game. It forms part of CA’s broader strategy to produce world-class match officials.
After making his first-class umpiring debut in 2004-05, Reiffel joined CA’s National Umpires Panel the following season and to date he has officiated in four Tests, 30 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and nine Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Speaking about his promotion, Reiffel said: “When I first started on CA’s Project Panel Umpires program after retiring from first-class cricket my aim was to reach the highest level of international umpiring. It always seemed a long way off so it’s very rewarding and exciting to achieve the goal I set myself when I first started umpiring.”
“I’d like to thank Cricket Australia for their support throughout my umpiring career. The umpiring system and pathway in Australia is very good, which is evidenced by the quality of Australian umpires,” Reiffel said.
The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires was established in 2002 with the aim of allowing the best and most respected umpires to stand in the sport’s biggest games, to improve the overall standard of umpiring at international level and to establish a benchmark to which future umpires could aspire. Since its inception Australia has had six members on the Panel, with Reiffel to be the seventh. Three of Australia’s current four members – Reiffel, Tucker and Oxenford – are former first-class players. Australia currently has four members on the Panel which, along with England, is the most of any full member nation.
CA today also announced its National Umpires Panel for the upcoming season. As a result of Reiffel’s promotion, Mike Graham-Smith has been elevated to CA’s National Umpires Panel, which is due recognition for Michael’s years of dedicated umpiring and development in Tasmania’s and CA’s pathway competitions.
CA National Umpires Panel (in alphabetical order)
Gerard Abood
Ashley Barrow
Simon Fry
Mike Graham-Smith
Geoff Joshua
Ian Lock
Mick Martell
Damien Mealey
Sam Nogajski
John Ward
Tony Ward
Paul Wilson