Bowden dumped from ICC umpire panel

Flamboyant New Zealander Billy Bowden has been dumped from the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of Umpires for 2015-16.

Bowden has been replaced by countryman Chris Gaffney, while the hole left by retiring Australian umpire Steve Davies has been filled by India’s Sundaram Ravi.

Known for his exaggerated signals and crooked index finger, Bowden umpired the most recent of his 84 Tests last month in the Caribbean featuring the West Indies and England.

The 52-year-old umpired his first international 20 years ago – a one-day international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Hamilton – before officiating his first Test five years later in Auckland.

Joining the elite panel in 2003, Bowden enjoyed a 10-year run before being dropped in 2013 only to return to the top echelon of umpires a year later.

While Bowden’s international future as an elite umpire remains clouded, three Australians were named on the 12-man panel.

Rod Tucker, Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel were anounced alongside four Englishmen and one representative from India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager of Cricket, congratulated the two new members of the panel.

“Their promotion is a testament to their hard work, as well as good decision-making and man-management skills over a period of time on the international panel,” Allardice said in an ICC statement.

“The ICC Umpire Selectors are confident that these two umpires will acquit themselves well at the top level, and that their selection will encourage umpires from all countries to aspire to elite panel selection if they are prepared to demonstrate the required ability, commitment and teamwork.”

Former Otago opening batsman Gaffney says he’s elated with his elevation to the cream of international cricket officialdom.

“I am thrilled to be promoted to the elite panel as it has to be the aim of every umpire to be appointed to this select group,” said Gaffney.

“I have a number of people to thank, especially those who have assisted from the very beginning of my umpire career, and will be doing this individually in due course.

“I, however, need to mention the support and understanding of both the NZC and the Police force, who allowed me the opportunity to follow my career as a policeman and also as an umpire.

“I am extremely grateful for their understanding, which has made this possible.”

And Ravi, 10 years the senior of Gaffney, says he’s keen to continue the high standards the panel holds itself to.

“I feel honoured and privileged to be selected for the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and thank the BCCI for its support and the ICC for providing this opportunity,” Ravi said.

“I have always enjoyed the company of those umpires already on the elite panel and now I have the chance to work with them all on a more regular basis. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead and aim to maintain a high standard of umpiring.”

2015-16 ICC Elite Panel of Umpires

Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Ian Gould (England), Richard Illingworth (England), Richard Kettleborough (England), Nigel Llong (England), Sundaram Ravi (India), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Rod Tucker (Australia), Bruce Oxenford (Australia)