Emirates Elite Panel Umpires and Referee announced for Johnnie Walker Super Series

The International Cricket Council today announced the members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees that will officiate in the Johnnie Walker Super Series.

Aleem Dar, Darrell Hair, Rudi Koertzen and Simon Taufel have been selected to undertake all of the on-field and off-field duties during the three One-Day International matches in Melbourne and the Super Test in Sydney. The referee for all four matches will be Ranjan Madugalle.

The appointments will be as follows:

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed congratulated the appointees and explained that the best-performing members of the Emirates Elite Panel had been chosen to stand in the prestigious matches.

"The Johnnie Walker Super Series is a contest for the top players in the world so it is only fitting that the best-performing officials should be appointed to stand in the matches," said Mr Speed.

"All of these officials have excellent track records and they will be an important part of what promises to be a very exciting series."

Chief Emirates Elite Panel referee, Ranjan Madugalle said that he was delighted to have been asked to preside over the series.

"It is a privilege to be asked to be involved in such an important series and I look forward to working with two outstanding teams," said Mr Madugalle.

"We will be trialling some new technology during all of the matches so having such experienced officials in the middle will give us a good opportunity to assess these innovations."

Simon Taufel has stood in 13 One-Day International matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground but - due to the policy of neutral umpires for all Test cricket - has never officiated in a Test match in his home state. The New South Wales official said he was looking forward to standing in the Super Test.

"The Johnnie Walker Super Series is a wonderful opportunity for me as it could be my first and last Test match in Sydney," said Mr Taufel.

"It is going to be a great experience standing in a match involving the very best players and it will be particularly special to officiate in a Test match with so many of the friends and family who have supported me through my career watching from the stands."

A new system of referral and consultation between the on-field umpires and the TV umpire will apply in all three One-Day Internationals and the Super Test.

Run outs and stumpings will be referred in the normal way to the TV umpire with the TV umpire making the final decision but in respect of all other decisions, the on-field umpires will have the discretion to consult with the TV umpire before making the final decision.