The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) congratulated Australian cricket umpire Simon Taufel on today being named by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its Umpire of the Year—the fifth consecutive year Taufel has won the award.

The recognition from cricket’s highest body is confirmation of Taufel’s status as clearly the leading international cricket umpire on the ICC’s elite umpiring panel.

Taufel’s award was voted on by his colleagues—the other members of the ICC’s Match Referees Panel, and the team captains of cricket’s full-member nations.

Taufel made his international umpiring debut in a One Day International match in January 1999 between Australia and Sri Lanka. Taufel made his Test match umpiring debut in December 2000 in the Boxing Day Test match between Australia and the West Indies.

The ASC’s Director of Sports Performance and Development, Greg Nance congratulated Taufel on his great achievement and international recognition.

‘The ASC would like to publicly congratulate Simon Taufel on his award and thank him for bringing into focus the challenging and rewarding role of officials in sport,’ Nance said.

‘The Australian Sports Commission works with National Sporting Organisations such as Cricket Australia to assist and develop officials and we are proud and excited to see an umpire like Simon, a product of the system in Australia, recognised for his excellence.’

‘The centrepiece of the ASC’s support for high performance officials in Australia is the National Officiating Scholarship Program, and for officials at all levels the highly-regarded National Officiating Accreditation Scheme, of which Simon holds the highest level of accreditation.’

‘Officials such as umpires and referees play a crucial role in the sport participation opportunities for all Australians. Without officials sport at the community level as well as the elite level would grind to a halt.’

The ASC is committed to developing and providing quality services to Australia’s officials. Amongst ASC initiatives in the area is the establishment of a National Officiating Advisory Group. This group consists of leading officials from a number of sports and explores the challenges facing officials and implements programs and assistance to provide career pathways, professional development and strategic direction to Australia’s sporting officials.

For more information on officiating in Australia www.ausport.gov.au/participating/officials

Contact: Kirsten Lea, ASC Corporate Communications, 0407 436 923