Umpires And Referees For The Forthcoming Singer Tourney (22 Jul 1996)

22 July 1996

Singer World Series Cricket

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

Former New Zealand captain John Reid will be the match referee for the four-nation Singer World Series and also for the two Tests which follows between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The umpires for the above contests will be Steve Bucknor from West Indies and Cyril Mitchley from South Africa.

All three figures have been associated with Sri Lanka cricket at some time or another over the past few years.

Reid, who captained 34 of his 58 Tests for New Zealand between 1949 and 1965 served as match referee in Sri Lanka during the three-Test series against South Africa in 1993. He was also the match referee during Sri Lanka`s Wills World Cup fixture against India at Delhi early this year.

Reid (68), a right-hand bat and right-arm fast-medium bowler, who occasionally kept wickets, has officiated in the most number of Tests (21) as an ICC appointed match referee since it came into existence in 1991.

Bucknor (50) is one of the tallest of cricketing umpires around standing at 6 feet, 3 inches. He has the distinction of officiating in two successive World Cup finals - 1992 in Melbourne and, in 1996 in Lahore when Sri Lanka emerged champions.

He has so far umpired in 21 Test matches since 1988-89 and was appointed to the ICC international panel in 1994.

A sports consultant and sports columnist, Bucknor was also an international football referee from 1985-92, having officiated in the El Salvador v Netherlands World Cup match in 1994.

Mitchley (58) has been involved in many matches played by Sri Lanka, the most notable ones being during the Wills World Cup early this year, when he officiated in the group match against India at Delhi and in the unruly semi-final also against India at Calcutta.

A right-hand batsman and wicket-keeper who represented Transvaal `B`, the bespectacled Mitchley is the chief training officer (development) of the South African Umpires` Association. He has officiated in 12 Test matches since 1992-3 and was appointed to the ICC international panel in 1994. He is also a former professional footballer.

Host Sri Lanka, holders India, Australia and Zimbabwe will compete in the seven-match Singer World Series which commences on August 24 and ends with the final on September 8.

The two Tests between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will follow soon afterwards on September 11 and 18.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)