When cricketers retire, they usually become broadcasters, journalists, coaches, or take on administrative roles with their cricket boards.
However, very few choose to become umpires, likely because they don’t want another high-pressure job.
Despite this, some former cricketers have taken up umpiring and made a name for themselves in the field after their playing days ended.
Here are five cricketers who were excellent players for their country or state teams and also became great umpires
5. Lan Gould
Ian Gould, a friendly Englishman, is one of the world’s best cricket umpires today. Before becoming an umpire, he was a well-known cricketer in English county cricket. He played as a wicketkeeper for Sussex, Middlesex, and Auckland from 1975 to 1996.
His strong performances in county cricket earned him a spot on the England national team, and he played 18 one-day internationals in early 1983. During these games, he took 15 catches and made 3 stumpings, but his batting average was only 12.91.
Since 2006, Gould has been an outstanding umpire. He has officiated in 64 Test matches, 123 one-day internationals, and 37 T20 internationals. At 60 years old, he is still at the top of his game, and cricket fans can expect him to remain part of the ICC Elite Panel of umpires for many more seasons.
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4. Paul Reiffel
Paul Reiffel was a key player for Australia in the 1990s. He played in 35 Test matches and 92 ODIs from 1992 to 1999. Although he wasn’t very fast, he was known for his accuracy and ability to make the ball move unpredictably.
After retiring from playing, he became an international umpire in 2009, starting with ODIs and later becoming a Test match umpire. He has officiated in 35 ODIs, 54 Test matches, and 16 T20 internationals. Throughout his umpiring career, he has shown the same dedication and discipline that marked his days as a medium-pace bowler.
3. Peter Willey
Peter Willey, a former English cricketer, became more famous as an umpire from 1996 to 2003. However, he had a solid career as a player for England too.
He played 26 Test matches and the same number of ODIs for England from 1976 to 1986. Even though he isn’t remembered as much today, Willey was a dependable player for his team.
His steady off-spin bowling and determined batting made him valuable, especially against strong teams like the West Indies. He played 15 of his Tests against them and the rest against Australia. Despite not being naturally talented, Willey worked hard and made the most of his abilities.
Later, he umpired in 25 Test matches and 34 ODIs, earning a reputation as one of the most reliable umpires in the world.
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2. Kumar Dharmasena
He was a key player in Sri Lanka’s spin bowling team from 1993 to 2004. Kumar Dharmasena is remembered as an icon in his country, especially for his role in their World Cup win in 1996.
Dharmasena was known for his off-spin bowling and was also a useful lower-order batsman. He played in 31 Test matches and 141 ODIs, contributing significantly to his team’s success.
After retiring from playing, he became an umpire. His umpiring career began with an ODI between India and Sri Lanka in 2009. The next year, he started officiating Test matches and has since become a regular umpire in Test cricket worldwide.
Today, Dharmasena is recognized as one of the top umpires globally and has received awards for his exceptional umpiring skills. He has officiated in 51 Test matches, 84 ODIs, and 22 T20 internationals. At 46 years old, he looks forward to officiating in many more matches in the future.
1. Srinivas Venkataraghavan
Srinivas Venkataraghavan, a former Indian cricket player and captain, played for his country in 57 Test matches and 15 ODIs over 18 years from 1965 to 1983. He was part of India’s famous spin bowling team, but he didn’t get to play as much as he wanted because there were many talented spinners in the team.
Ten years after retiring from playing, Venkat became an international umpire. He umpired for about nine years and became known as one of the world’s best umpires. He was praised for being fair and for his sharp attention to detail, which helped him keep control of the games.
In total, Venkataraghavan umpired in 73 Test matches and 52 ODIs during his career. Even today, he is considered one of the greatest umpires in the history of modern cricket.
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