Darrell Hair moves to England

Darrell Hair, Australia's most high-profile umpire, has announced that he will be moving to England to live early in the New Year. He will continue to be a member of the ICC's international panel.

"I'm looking forward to what lies ahead but I will certainly miss Australia," Hair admitted. "Being on the international Test umpiring panel, and with all the travel that is involved with this role, it does not really matter where I'm based. The ICC doesn't appoint an umpire to any international matches in their home country, so in many respects, moving to London will cut down a lot of my travel."

The announcement effectively ends Hair's career in Australian domestic cricket, and as he is not on the English panel of umpires, it would seem to be international games or nothing for him from now on.

"I intend to be actively involved in umpiring for the next few years, whether it be with the blessing of ICC or village matches in Steeple Bumpstead," Hair told his New South Wales umpiring colleagues. "Hopefully there will also be some other options arising from time to time to help fill in my days."