Top 5 umpires with most Tests and ODIs

According to cricketing laws, Umpires have the utmost authority of taking decisions on the field. The game of cricket initially had two umpires and then the third umpire was introduced in the early 90s.

International Cricket Council (ICC) then established Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2002 to officiate in Tests and One Day Internationals across the globe. It initially started with eight umpires in the panel and then expanded to 12 at the moment.

Simon Taufel, Ashoka de Silva, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Dave Orchard, David Shepherd, Ian Gould, Kumar Dharmasena, Nigel Llong and Russell Tiffin are some of the most famous umpires who have officiated in ODIs and Tests so far.

Without much ado, let's take a look at the Top 5 Umpires who have officiated in most Tests and ODIs.

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#5 Daryl Harper - 269 (174 ODIs and 95 Tests)

Daryl Harper had his fair share of controversies

Daryl Harper was the member of original eight-umpire ICC panel initially established in 2002. Born in 1951, the Australian made his first appearance in an international game in 1994. He then made his Test match debut as an umpire in 1998.

Harper was an international umpire from 1994 to 2011 and stood in 174 One Day Internationals and 95 Test matches in his career. He was one of the umpires in a semi-final game at the 2003 World Cup as well.

Harper retired from international umpiring in 2011 after he was criticised by the Indian team during their tour of West Indies. Though his career did not end well, he was rated as one of the best umpires to have officiated in the game.

#4 Billy Bowden - 284 (200 ODIs and 84 Tests)

Billy Bowden, a great character

The man with a crooked finger. Billy Bowden redefined umpiring in cricket with his expressive signalling style. He became famous for his gestures which include the famous crooked finger any batsmen do not wish to see.

Bowden retired as a player early in his career and officiated his first international game at the age of 32. Billy was a part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 10 years. He was the third-umpire in the 2007 World Cup final.

In 2007, Billy became the youngest umpire to stand in 100 One Day Internationals but Simon Taufel broke that record later. Billy Bowden has stood in 200 ODIs and 84 Test matches in his umpiring career. He was dropped from New Zealand international umpiring panel in 2016.

#3 Steve Bucknor - 309 (181 ODIs and 128 Tests)

Steve Bucknor, calm and composed always

Steve Bucknor is one of the most famous umpires cricket has ever had. Bucknor has officiated in international cricket for two decades and stood in five World Cup finals (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007).

He became an international umpire in 1989 and his first game as an umpire was between West Indies and India at Antigua. Bucknor was a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires ever since it was introduced.

With 128 Tests, Bucknor is the most capped umpire in the history of Test cricket. He has also stood in 181 One Day Internationals.

#2 Aleem Dar - 309 (190 ODIs and 119 Tests)

Aleem Dar, three-time ICC Umpire of the Year

Having made his debut in 2000, Aleem Dar is one of the most respected umpires in international cricket right now. He became the member of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in 2002 and has stood in 119 Test matches and 190 One Day Internationals so far.

Dar has stood in some of the important games in cricket history. He was the umpire in the 2007 World Cup final and also in the 2010 World Twenty20 final. He also stood in some of the matches at the 2015 World Cup.

Dar has won the ICC Umpire of the Year on three consecutive occasions in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The 50-year-old is still active as an umpire and soon could become the most capped international umpire in cricket.

#1 Rudi Koertzen - 317 (209 ODIs and 108 Tests)

Rudi Koertzen, a slow death awaits

Nicknamed “Slow Death”, for the manner in which he raises his left arm to give a batsman out, Koertzen became an international umpire in 1992. He was also a part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires from 2002 to 2010.

Koertzen has officiated in 209 One Day Internationals and 108 Test matches. He has stood in two World Cup semifinals and also in the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2004 and 2006.

His last game as an umpire was in 2010, between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Harare. Koertzen has received ICC Golden Bails Award for umpiring in 100 Tests and Silver Bails Awards for standing in 200 ODIs.

He is the only umpire until now to stand in 200 Tests and 100 ODIs.