The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the match officials for the much-awaited ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and India, which will be held from June 7-11 at The Oval in London. The officials appointed for the game include Chris Gaffaney of New Zealand and Richard Illingworth of England as the on-field umpires, Richard Kettleborough of England as the TV umpire, and Kumar Dharmasena of Sri Lanka as the fourth umpire. Richie Richardson of the West Indies has been selected as the match referee.
Chris Gaffaney, 48, is a seasoned umpire, having already officiated in 48 Test matches. He is known for his calm demeanor and has earned the respect of both players and fellow officials in the cricketing fraternity. On the other hand, Richard Illingworth, who will be standing in his 64th Test, is a former left-arm spinner who played international cricket for England between 1991 and 2002. Illingworth has been a part of the
ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires since 2019 and has also officiated in the first WTC Final in 2019 between New Zealand and India.
Richard Kettleborough, who will be serving as the TV umpire, has been a part of the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires since 2011 and has a wealth of experience. He has officiated in over 70 Test matches and 100 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Kumar Dharmasena, the fourth umpire for the game, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played 31 Tests and 141 ODIs for his country. He has been part of the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires since 2011 and has officiated in several high-profile matches.
Richie Richardson, the match referee, is a former West Indies captain who played 86 Tests and 224 ODIs for his country. He has been a match referee since January 2016 and has officiated in several high-profile Test matches and ODIs.
The WTC Final is a highly anticipated event in the cricketing world, and the appointment of these experienced officials is a testament to the ICC’s commitment to ensuring that the game is officiated at the highest level. The match officials will be under immense pressure to make the right calls during the game, and their performance will be closely scrutinized by fans and experts alike. Nonetheless, the officials have a wealth of experience, and the ICC will be hoping that they can deliver a fair and memorable game of cricket that sets the standard for future events.
