Taufel - 'It is a great honour when you win an award'

While the focus of the attention surrounding the Hyundai ICC Awards 2006 will, naturally enough, be on the players who have thrilled us with their feats of athleticism, skill and endurance over the past 12 months or so, it should be pointed out that the only person to win the same ICC Award twice is not famed for his cover drive, leg-cutter or long barrier.

Still only 35 - a veritable youngster for an umpire - Simon Taufel won the Umpire of the Year award in 2004 and 2005 and continues to inspire confidence in players and spectators around the world with his calm, assured style and high quality decision-making.

For Taufel, the inclusion of an umpiring award is an important acknowledgement that the men in white are an integral part of the game, while not being the focal point.

"It is a great honour when you win an award such as this and I think it is important to acknowledge the contribution that umpires make to the game," he said. "The fact that it is voted on by the captains and other highly respected people within cricket makes it a great honour."

In these highly professional times, it is not unusual for players to spend several hours every day, training, working on their technique and spending time with coaches evaluating their progress and development. The same is now true for umpires. In order to stay at the top of his game, Taufel leaves nothing to chance. He is in constant contact with his national umpires coach in Australia, discussing various aspects of his game. When not jetting around the world to fulfill appointments at Test matches or One Day Internationals he still goes and stands in the nets to practice his decision-making skills, positioning and all-round judgement.

He has a life skills coach to improve his communication and mental performance, both on and off the field of play, and also make sure that personal relationships are maintained in the context of the huge commitment of being on the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and the time away from home that that entails.

"We are encouraged to set achievable goals for ourselves. Not just cricket-related goals but also personal ones," he said.

Put that together with a financial coach, dietician and fitness instructor, there are many people involved in keeping Simon Taufel in nick for cricket.

And of course there is the law. You might think that an elite umpire has no need to read the book at this stage in his career but you'd be wrong.

"I review six laws on a daily basis. You cannot forget the bread and butter of umpiring - we constantly revise the law and I have a law exam at least once a month."

When Taufel looks back on the past a year or so of world cricket, he can be satisfied with another successful period out in the middle.

"My personal highlight was standing in my first Test match at Lord's. It was a very humbling experience to be there at the home of cricket considering its history and who had been there before.

"From another angle, it was great to be able to stand with a member of the ICC Associate and Affiliate Panel of umpires in Trinidad for the tri-series between Canada, Bermuda and Zimbabwe. It shows that we are serious about bringing on umpires from beyond the traditional countries and giving them the opportunities to officiate at higher levels."

While millions of boys and girls grow up dreaming to be the next Sachin Tendulkar, Andrew Flintoff or Karen Rolton, Taufel is keen to point out that a career in umpiring has a lot of offer also.

"It teaches you a lot about cricket and also about yourself," he said. "Umpiring is a great leveler and it feels good to be able contribute in a meaningful way to this great sport. It is a huge amount of work, a constant challenge and not a job you can take lightly but umpiring can offer an exciting career path with so many fantastic opportunities."