Former Australian first-class cricketers Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker have joined a new Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Project Panel and will umpire cricket this summer.

The new Project Panel is an initiative from an umpiring strategic plan drafted by the ACB 12 months ago.

ACB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland said the recruitment of Reiffel and Tucker is a significant moment for Australian cricket umpiring.

"Paul and Rod's appointment has come following a strategic review of the way Australian cricket umpiring is structured and developed. This review has also seen the establishment of a national umpiring selection panel, a skill development and training program and a technical video performance analysis procedure," Mr Sutherland said.

"The ACB is striving to develop the best umpires in the world and I am confident that our umpiring initiatives will help make this happen. Improving the standard of umpiring at the domestic and club levels is an obvious place to start."

Mr Sutherland added that former first-class players would enter umpiring with the benefit of a different skill set and on-field experience.

"With knowledge and experience of the game at the highest level, former first-class players are well positioned to make a significant contribution to umpiring. Combining their understanding of the game with the expert knowledge passed on by other ACB umpires will provide a good mix," he said.

The ACB Project Panel has been added to a structure that includes a six-man National Panel, a Supplementary Panel of the same number and a 12-man Development Panel. The total of 26 ACB-contracted umpires is up 18 from last year.

Mr Sutherland said the larger group of umpires and an improved support structure allows the ACB to develop more officials capable of adjudicating at the highest level and provides an alternate career path for people interested in cricket.

"Umpiring is now an attractive option for first-class players who are coming to the end of their careers and the ACB would certainly like to see the numbers on the Project Panel increase. Having more umpires offered ACB contracts also demonstrates that people can still play a crucial part in the game, even if it is not as a player," he said.

Reiffel, 36, who played 35 Tests and 92 one-day internationals for Australia from 1991 to 1999, and is the Victorian Bushrangers' all-time leading wicket-taker (545), said he was excited at the challenge of becoming an umpire.

"It certainly is a huge test, and I am putting myself on the line somewhat by taking on this role," Reiffel said.

"But now that I have finished playing, the opportunity to be out in the middle once again has really sparked my interest.

"I hope that I can bring a lot of cricket experience to the role, understanding what players are going through in the heat of the battle, and perhaps even managing to stay one step ahead," he said.

Tucker, 37, began his state career with New South Wales in 1985-86 and went on to make 103 first-class appearances with the Blues and Tasmania. He was vice-captain of Tasmania from 1992 to 1996 and captain/coach of the Canberra Comets in the domestic one-day competition in 1999-2000.

The former left-hand batsman and right-arm medium pacer said that umpiring provided him with an opportunity to stay involved with the game.

"I'm sure that I will still think like a player out on the field for some time to come, so the transition from player to umpire will probably be a lot harder than people imagine," Tucker said.

"However, it is a chance for me to put something back into the game that gave me so much enjoyment as a player.

"Should I enjoy the experience, the challenge is there for me to progress even further as an umpire than what I did as a player. I hope that my playing experiences give me the insight to provide players with the right answers at the necessary times."

Reiffel and Tucker join Queenslander Bruce Oxenford as the ACB-contracted umpires with first-class cricket experience. Oxenford, who is on the ACB's Supplementary Panel, played eight first-class games for Queensland in the early 1990s.

Reiffel (Victoria) and Tucker (New South Wales) will begin umpiring grade cricket. Their progress will be monitored by state umpiring coaches and the ACB's umpiring department, headed by former Victorian player Geoff Allardice.

The coaches, who also oversee other ACB-contracted umpires, will provide skill, fitness and performance reviews between match duties.

The ACB Umpiring Selection Panel comprises former Test umpires Mel Johnson (Chairman) and Dick French and Allardice. The selection panel will appoint umpires in Australian international fixtures as well as Pura Cup and ING Cup matches.

© 2002 Australian Cricket Board

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