London: The International Cricket Council (ICC) elevated three new umpires to its elite panel on Friday with Australia duo Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel as well as New Zealand's Billy Bowden all added. The trio's performances at the recent World Cup in South Africa, won last month by Australia, sealed their rise to the top tier of umpiring. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said, "The ICC has been monitoring the performance of these three umpires on a regular basis, particularly during this World Cup, where each of them has performed with distinction." And the Australian added, "Darrell Hair is a highly experienced umpire who was close to selection on the original elite panel, while Billy Bowden and Simon Taufel at 40 and 32 respectively, represent the next generation of international umpires." The ICC aim to reduce the workload on the original eight elite officials who between them officiated in 133 One-day Internationals and 37 Tests during the panel's first year in existence. Hair caused controversy by no-balling Sri Lanka's Muthiah Muralitharan for throwing during the 1995-96 Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. Subsequently Hair, in his autobiography, described the off spinner's unorthodox action as 'diabolical' and the ensuing controversy did the umpire's cause no good when the original panel was unveiled. However, in January, Hair stood while Muralitharan was bowling in a One-day match in Sydney against Australia and the fixture passed off without incident. Now Hair, together with Bowden and Taufel, joins the eight umpires already on the panel as the only officials allowed to stand in Test matches. Hair, 50, has already stood in 44 Tests but Bowden (three) and Taufel (two) are both inexperienced in officiating in five-day encounters. Bowden has attracted particular publicity for the extravagant way he signals his decisions. Taufel is a more orthodox, under-stated umpire. At the World Cup, South Africa's Dave Orchard and Zimbabwe's Russell Tiffin, both members of the elite panel, were dropped after the first round of matches for sub- standard performances following close scrutiny by the ICC. However, both African officials have retained their places on the panel and although there is provision for demoting officials none of the original eight have been axed. The appointments were recommended by ICC management and approved by Speed and former India opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar, chairman of the ICC's cricket committee- playing. Hair and Taufel's elevation means there are now three Australians on the panel while Bowden is the lone New Zealand representative. All panel members are currently on a three day training and development course in Dubai. ICC elite umpire panel: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Daryl Harper (Australia), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Dave Orchard (South Africa), David Shepherd (England), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe), Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan (India), Darrell Hair (Australia), Simon Taufel (Australia), Billy Bowden (New Zealand). Copyright AFP 2001

Tags: cricket, international cricket council, icc, darrell hair, simon taufel, new zealand umpire billy bowden, world cup in south africa, icc chief executive malcolm speed, sri lankan bowler muthiah muralitharan, west indian umpire steve bucknor, sri lankan umpire asoka de silva, australia umpire daryl harper, south africa umpire rudi koertzen, south africa umpire dave orchard, england umpire david shepherd, zimbabwe umpire russell tiffin, indian umpire srinivasaraghavan venkataraghavan, australia umpire darrell hair, australia umpire simon taufel, new zealand umpire billy bowden.