Top 10 Best Umpire in Cricket - (Updated 2025)

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. It has been played for a considerable amount of time now. Born in England, Cricket has garnered a massive fan base around every corner of the world. The sport has also witnessed many legends who have graced it with their brilliance. Just like batters, bowlers, and fielders, umpires also play a huge role in the game. It won’t be wrong to say that without the umpires, cricket can never be played fairly. However, the job isn’t easy for them as they have to make split-second decisions while millions of eyes are set on them. While making crucial decisions, they also have to make sure that the game is being played fairly and nobody is breaking the spirit of the game.

Just like some legendary cricketers, some legendary umpires have left an unforgettable mark on the sport. They have earned the respect of the players and the fans as well. But it’s pretty hard to be an umpire, as if a decision goes wrong, they have to face the wrath of the players and the fans as well, which creates a lot of pressure on them. However, remaining calm and composed in situations like these makes an umpire a legend of the game. On that note, let’s take a look at the world best umpire.

How We Analyze the Best Umpire in Cricket - Major Facts

A set of ranking factors has been devised to establish who is the no 1 umpire in cricket, so that we can rank these umpires fairly and without any bias.

• Decision Accuracy Rate: The percentage of correct on-field decisions, especially those upheld after DRS reviews, is a core performance metric. Paying attention to the game and making the correct decisions is one of the most important aspects of umpiring, which they have mastered. It becomes the primary metric to rank the world best umpire.
• Number of International Matches Officiated: Reflects experience and trust from the ICC across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Some of the umpires have done the job in more than 200 matches, but some are there who have done it for fewer than 200 games. However, the kind of expertise they held during the matches showed their impact and the knowledge they hold about the game.
• ICC Elite Panel Tenure: The long-standing members of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires have demonstrated top-level consistency and have been considered while ranking the no 1 umpire in cricket.
• Major Tournament Appearances: Officiating in World Cup finals, ICC tournaments, or high-pressure games adds to an umpire’s credibility, and only the top cricket umpire gets the chance to stand as an umpire in such crucial games.
• Neutrality & Reputation: Recognition for being fair, unbiased, and respected by players and commentators alike is one of the significant factors, as the general reputation of an umpire regarding his on-field performance becomes crucial to rank the no 1 umpire in cricket.
• Calmness Under Pressure: The ability to make accurate, composed decisions in high-stakes or emotionally charged moments is where the temperament of an umpire is judged the most, and such decisions become a landmark while establishing who the top cricket umpire is.
• Contribution to Umpiring Standards: Influence on modern umpiring through mentoring, training, or introducing best practices is what adds to the legacy of an umpire and makes him one of the most famous umpires in cricket.
• Player & Peer Recognition: Praise or trust from international players, captains, and fellow umpires carries a lot of importance as it establishes a positive reputation of the umpire in the cricket fraternity and makes him one of the most famous umpires in cricket.
• Awards & ICC Honours: ICC Umpire of the Year awards or other formal accolades add to the recognition of the umpire and make them more respectable in the fraternity.
• Longevity & Multi-Format Success: Sustained success across formats and years, showing adaptability to evolving cricket dynamics and technologies like DRS.

Top 10 Best Umpire in Cricket 2025- Updated List

The list of the top 10 best umpire in cricket consists of some absolute legends when it comes to their umpiring skills and overall impact on the game, including Simon Taufel, Richard Illingworth, Aleem Dar, etc.

Who is the Best Umpire in Cricket 2025?

Many umpires in cricket are known for their on-field excellence in giving the correct decisions, which is a very difficult job to do, considering the amount of pressure they have to face. In real-time, it is an exceptional skill to judge whether the batsman is out or not, especially in lbw decisions, where every wrong decision could change the course of the game. Currently, Richard Illingworth is the best umpire in cricket. He has won the ICC best umpire award four times, which is the second highest among all umpires in the world.

10. Billy Bowden | New Zealand | 308 Matches

The funniest and most unique umpire in the history of cricket is New Zealand’s Billy Bowden. He was known for his ‘crooked finger of doom’ for dismissals. He also has other distinctive signals for decisions like fours and sixes, which helped him to make an impact in the sport. He was one of the most favourite umpires of both fans and the cricketers themselves because of his on-field nature. Despite being unique and funny on the field, Bowden never compromised with accuracy. The New Zealand umpire officiated in 84 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 24 T20Is.

9. Rudi Koertzen | South Africa | 314 Matches

Rudi Koertzen comes from South Africa and was famous for his ‘slow death’ finger raise for dismissals. Koertzen has been featured in numerous ICC tournaments and multiple bilateral series. He has officiated in 100 Tests, 200 ODIs, and 14 T20Is. He started his umpiring career in 1981 and became a full-time umpire after 11 years. He had an international career of 18 years and officiated in more than 300 matches. He was one of the best in the business and knew the game in and out, which helped him make the correct decisions most of the time.

8. David Shepherd | England | 265 Matches

David Shepherd is one of the few umpires who used to be jovial without compromising accuracy on the field. Shepherd also had a unique habit of lifting his one foot when the score of a team reached a multiple of 111. Apart from these, he was also known for training young umpires and guiding them. Shepherd has officiated in 92 Tests, 172 ODIs and 1 T20I. The ICC Umpire of the Year Award is also known as the David Shepherd trophy, as a tribute to one of the best umpires the game has witnessed.

7. Steve Bucknor | West Indies | 309 Matches

Steve Bucknor is one of the best umpires in cricket history. He was the longest-serving umpire in the history of international cricket. However, he faced some controversies in his career, especially the 2008 India vs Australia series, but despite that, he remained a respected personality in the sport. Bucknor officiated in 128 Tests, 181 ODIs. He was one of the oldest members and had a fruitful career as an umpire. The entire cricket fraternity respects him for his outstanding knowledge of the game.

6. Kumar Dharmasena | Sri Lanka | 275 Matches

The cricketer-turned-umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, is one of the most renowned cricket umpires in the history of the game. Hailing from Sri Lanka, Dharmasena has featured in many international games. He has also been part of multiple ICC tournaments, which shows how experienced he is. Dharmasena has officiated in 91 Tests, 137 ODIs, and 47 T20Is. The Sri Lankan umpire was quite popular on the cricket ground as an umpire and was known for making some bold decisions on the field. He has won the ICC Umpire of the Year Award 2 times in his career.

5. Marais Erasmus | South Africa | 247 Matches

Marais Erasmus is a well-known and respected cricket umpire from South Africa. He used to be a cricketer himself before becoming an umpire and has been part of the ICC Elite Panel since 2010. Erasmus is known for staying calm on the field and making fair and accurate decisions. He has officiated in many important matches, including World Cups and finals. Players and fans trust him for his honesty and good judgment, and he has won the ICC Umpire of the Year award 3 times because of his excellent skills.

4. Richard Kettleborough | England | 146 Matches

Richard Kettleborough is one of the most respected umpires in cricket today. Originally from England, he played first-class cricket before moving into umpiring, where he quickly made a name for himself. Since joining the ICC Elite Panel in 2009, he’s been known for his calm attitude and clear decision-making on the field. Kettleborough has officiated in many big international matches, including World Cup games and finals. He was named ICC Umpire of the Year three years in a row, from 2013 to 2015, which shows just how highly regarded he is in the cricket world.

3. Aleem Dar | Pakistan | 435 Matches

Pakistan have produced many iconic cricketers, but they have also produced a legendary umpire, Aleem Dar. He has had a record-breaking career as he won the ICC umpire of the year award three times. He also has a record of officiating in the most number of Test matches. Dar is the second Asian in the list of the 10 best cricket umpires in the world, and surprisingly, there is no best Indian umpire in the list. Dar has officiated in 144 Tests, 222 ODIs and 69 T20Is. Aleem Dar has a record of officiating in more than 400 matches, which is no less than a huge achievement.

2. Richard Illingworth | England | 211 Matches

Richard Illingworth, a former England player, has become one of cricket’s most trusted umpires. Since joining the ICC Elite Panel in 2013, he’s built a strong reputation for staying calm under pressure and making consistent, fair decisions. Illingworth has officiated in many important matches, including World Cups and major Test series. His hard work and dedication have earned him the ICC Umpire of the Year award 4 times, in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Players and fans respect him for his knowledge of the game and his fair approach on the field. It is a very big deal to win the ICC Award for three consecutive years, which shows his consistency as an umpire.

1. Simon Taufel | Australia | 282 Matches

Simon Taufel is the world best umpire in cricket. After his umpiring stint, he was shifted to the ICC’s main umpires panel, where he was recruited to teach and prepare the umpires for international cricket. There have been rare occasions where the captains challenged Taufel’s decision because of his consistency in delivering correct judgment on the field. He was, without any doubt, the best umpire in the cricket world. Taufel won the "Best Umpires' Award 5 times consecutively, which speaks highly about his hard work and dedication.

Who is the Best Umpire in Cricket of All Time?

Simon Taufel is widely regarded as the best umpire in cricket that the game has ever seen. Originally from Australia, he began umpiring at a young age. His ability to stay composed under pressure and make consistently accurate decisions earned him the trust and respect of players and fans around the world. Taufel was a key member of the ICC Elite Panel and stood in many major matches, including World Cups and top-level Test series.

Between 2004 and 2008, he won the ICC Umpire of the Year award five years in a row, a clear sign of how accurate he was as an umpire. Although he retired from on-field duties in 2012, Taufel has stayed closely involved in cricket, mentoring young umpires and sharing his experience to help improve standards across the game.

Conclusion

The game of cricket has seen some of the most talented umpires, and their judgment has been absolutely pinpoint accurate, making them one of the most reliable umpires of the game. It is widely considered that Simon Taufel, Richard Illingworth and Aleem Dar are some of the best umpire in cricket. Although many other experienced umpires also had a lasting impact on the game, such as Dickie Bird, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper, etc. Their contribution is also immense and cannot be overlooked in the modern era.