Richardson named in panel of ICC refs

The International Cricket Council has appointed former West Indies captain Richie Richardson to its elite panel of match referees.

The world cricket body made the announcement on Monday and said that Richardson, 53, would take over his new role in January after finishing his assignment as manager of the West Indies team on a tour of Australia.

Following his appointment, Mr Richardson said: “I am excited and honoured to have been selected for one of the most important jobs in cricket.

“Having been on either side of the fence, first as a player and then as an administrator, I think I have the experience and insight to help me contribute positively alongside some of the finest and most experienced match officials.

“Obviously, I look forward to working and learning from my colleagues as we all continue to strive for excellence.”

Richardson, who scored 5,949 runs in 86 tests and 6,248 in 224 one-day internationals before retiring in 1996, joins the likes of David Boon of Australia, Chris Broad of England and Jeff Crowe of New Zealand in the elite panel.

He has been the West Indies cricket team manager since January 2011.

ICC General Manager Geoff Allardice said Richardson had embodied traits such as integrity, leadership and sportsmanship as a batsman and as West Indies captain.

“He is very familiar with the demands of international cricket through his experiences as a player, captain and now team manager, and he will bring a fresh perspective to the role,” Allardice said.