Officials & Their Duties in Cricket

Cricket is a team sport. From its origins in England, cricket has gained popularity and spread across the areas that formerly comprised the British Empire, including Australia, India and Sri Lanka. With teams all over the world, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has developed an Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees. These officials have designated responsibilities for each cricket match.

  1. Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees

    • The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires includes umpires from all countries in the ICC. These include New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, South Africa and England. The panel of Emirates Elite Referees includes members from the countries of England, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and India, as of April 2011. Both the panels of umpires and referees are selected each year by the ICC and, after the April 1 announcement, are contracted to work with the organization.

    Duties

    • The responsibilities of Emirates Elite Panel match officials include taking part in test matches to ensure the top level of impartial adjudication. In order to educate local cricket officials, two panel members stand in nearly all test matches and an additional member spends the test match standing with the home umpire from the international panel of ICC umpires. This allows the umpires of the Emirates Elite Panel to educate and train local officials.

    Travel Requirements

    • Members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees travel as part of their responsibilities as cricket match officials. Typically, each panel member stands in on eight to 10 test matches annually. Along with the test matches, panel members also work at 10 to 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and ICC world events. This yields a possible workload of 75 on-field days. With games being hosted in all of the ICC territories, umpires and referees have to travel to each country.

    Development

    • All international cricket match officials have the opportunity to work with the ICC's Regional Umpiring Performance Managers and develop their skills in adjudication. This annual meeting provides opportunities for training with a specialist who reviews game decisions by analyzing game footage. Cricket match officials can promote their own success in umpiring or refereeing by exploiting these development opportunities.