What is the most difficult job in the game of cricket? Many would say fast bowling, wicketkeeping, or even batting. However, it is often said that umpiring is one of the most thankless and difficult jobs in the game of cricket. A single human error can change the course of the game, and that is why umpiring is such an important task in the game of cricket. In today's article, we mentioned some Australian umpires who have officiated in most international matches.
1. Simon Taufel
The first umpire to feature on our list is Simon Taufel from Sydney, New South Wales. Simon umpired his first international match in 1999, in a one-day international between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney. Later, he umpired in all formats of the game until 2012, in a total of 282 matches.
2. Daryl Harper
The second umpire to register his name on our list is Daryl Harper from Adelaide, South Australia. In 1994, Daryl umpired in his first international match, which was a one-day match between New Zealand and South Africa at Perth. Until 2011, he umpired a total of 279 matches across all formats.
3. Darrell Hair
The third umpire to appear on our list is Darrell Hair from Mudgee, New South Wales. Darrell was an umpire in his first international match in 1991, a one-day match between India and the West Indies at Adelaide. Until 2008, he umpired in all formats of the game in a total of 223 matches.
4. Steve Davis
The fourth umpire to feature on our list is Steve Davis, who hails from Hammersmith, London. Steve umpired for the first time in an international game in 1992, in an ODI between Pakistan and the West Indies at Adelaide. Until 2015, he umpired a total of 220 matches across all formats.
5. Rod Tucker
The fifth umpire to register his name on our list is Rod Tucker from Auburn, Sydney, New South Wales. Rod played as a left-handed batter and a right-arm medium bowler in the 103 first-class matches he played. In 2009, he umpired an international match for the first time, a T20I between Australia and South Africa at Melbourne. Until 2022, he had umpired 217 matches across all formats.
6. Bruce Oxenford
The sixth umpire to appear on our list is Bruce Oxenford from Southport, Queensland. Bruce also played as a player in eight first-class matches. He umpired for the first time in an international match in 2006, a T20I between Australia and South Africa at Brisbane. Until 2021, he had been an umpire in 179 matches across all formats.
7. Paul Reiffel
The seventh umpire on our list is Paul Reiffel, a former Australian right-arm fast medium bowler from Box Hill, Victoria. In 2009, he became an official umpire for the ICC when he umpired in his first Twenty20 international, which was played between Australia and South Africa at Brisbane. Until 2022, he had been an umpire in 159 matches across all formats.
8. Steve Randell
The eighth umpire to feature on our list is Steve Randell from Hobart, Tasmania. Randell made his debut as an umpire on the international stage in 1984, in a Test match between Australia and the West Indies. He then went on to become an umpire in the 50-over format as well, and until 1998, he umpired in 124 matches.
9. Tony Crafter
The ninth-ranked umpire on our list is Tony Crafter, who originally hailed from Mount Barker, South Australia. Tony first umpired an international match in 1979, a one-day game between Australia and England at Sydney. Until 1992, he umpired a total of 117 matches.
10. Peter McConnell
The tenth and last umpire to appear on our list is Peter McConnell. Peter was first seen umpiring on the international stage in 1983, in a one-day international between Australia and England at Brisbane. Until 1992, he featured in 22 Test matches and 68 ODIs as an umpire, bringing his total tally of umpiring in international matches to 90.
