Top 10 Best Umpire in Cricket - 2025

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. It has been played for a long 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, there are also some legendary umpires who 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 10 best cricket umpire in the world.

Ranking Factor:

• Decision Making - These umpires are ranked according to the kind of decision-making they have done in their careers. Paying attention to the game and making the correct decisions is one of the most important aspects of umpiring, which they have mastered.
• Respect of fraternity - The list consists of umpires who have been the best in the business and were loved by one and all.
• Expertise - 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.

Top 10 Best Umpire in Cricket 2025

10. Kumar Dharmasena

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 57 Tests, 97 ODIs, and 32 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.

9. Ian Gould

Another player-turned-umpire, Ian Gould, has featured in multiple international matches. He has played a significant role in guiding many younger umpires throughout his career and was involved in many DRS decisions as well. Apart from that, Gould was also known for his fun-loving nature, and he was often seen sharing funny moments with players on the field. Gould has officiated in 251 Tests, 140 ODIs, and 37 T20I matches. One of the senior-most umpires in the fraternity, Gould was rarely incorrect in his decision-making. He was a supportive personality as well.

8. Daryl Harper

Australian umpire Daryl Harper is one of those umpires who played a significant role in the adoption of various technologies. One of those technologies is the Decision Review System (DRS), which has helped players to challenge umpires’ decisions. Apart from that, Harper was also known for handling player confrontations very effectively on the field. He has officiated in 95 Tests, 174 ODIs and 10 T20Is.

7. Billy Bowden

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. 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.

6. Rudi Koertzen

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 long 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.

5. David Shepherd

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.

4. Steve Bucknor

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 84 Tests, 200 ODIs and 24 T20Is. He was one of the oldest members and has had a fruitful career as an umpire. The entire cricket fraternity respects him for his outstanding knowledge of the game.

3. Dickie Bird

England has produced many legendary umpires and one of them is Dickie Bird who set the standards for the future generations. Bird was involved in many famous moments in the sport, especially in the 1975 World Cup final. Throughout his career, Bird officiated in 66 Tests and 69 ODI matches. Apart from that, he was also famous for making accurate decisions and his love for the game. The match official also played in First Class and List A cricket but couldn't make it to the national team.

2. Aleem Dar

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 300 matches which is no less than a huge achievement.

1. Simon Taufel

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 five times consecutively, which speaks highly about his hard work and dedication.