Apart from the players, the umpires play a vital role in the cricket match happening between the two teams. All decisions made by the umpires can decide the result of the game. Let us have a look at the Top 5 Best Third Umpires in 2025.
There are two main umpires on the field when a cricket game is going on. One umpire stands near the bowling end, whereas the other stands on the leg side, which is called the leg umpire. There is one more umpire who is not present on the ground; he is called the third umpire. If the on-field umpires have any doubts, they refer to the third umpire. There is also a fourth umpire. He acts as an assistant and is a substitute if any umpire cannot continue the match.
Marais Erasmus, Billy Bowden, David Shepherd, Steve Bucknor, Simon Taufel, Rudi Koertzen, Ian Gould, Aleem Dar, and Richard Kettleborough are some of the well-known umpires in cricket.
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Simon Taufel
He is from Australia, and his decisions were on point. Honestly, his decisions were so precise that no player ever had a doubt when he raised his finger. Simon Taufel was the umpire for five back-to-back ICC Umpire of the Year awards. From 2004 to 2008, no one has broken the record so far.
He was the umpire in 74 test matches, 34 T20s, and 174 ODIs. Taufel was also the umpire in some of the Women’s International matches. He was one of the umpires in the ICC World Cup 2011 Final.
Aleem Dar
Pakistan’s Aleem Dar, during his career, was the umpire in 145 test matches, 231 ODIs, and 72 T20s. He was the umpire in many important finals of the ICC event. The 2007 World Cup Final, the 2010 ICC T20 Final, and the 2006 Champions Trophy Final are some of the finals.
During the 2011 ICC World Cup, 15 times his decision was the third umpire, but none of them were overturned. This shows his reading of the game and making proper decisions.
Dickie Bird
1973 was the year when he started umpiring. Dickie Bird is basically from England. In his 23 years as an umpire, Dickie Bird was the umpire in 66 test matches and 69 ODIs. He was also the umpire in seven Women’s International matches.
During his career, he was the umpire in two World Cup Finals, 1975 and 1983. In his last game as an umpire, all the players playing gave him a Guard of honour.
Steve Bucknor
Bucknor, during his time, made many controversial decisions that fans questioned a lot. During his 20-year umpiring career, Steve Bucknor managed to umpire 128 test matches and 181 ODIs.
He was also the umpire in five back-to-back World Cup Finals, starting from 1992 to 2009. He was also a football referee before he started his cricket umpiring journey.
David Shepherd
Shepherd, before starting his cricketing umpiring journey, was a cricketer. His journey as an umpire started in 1983 and ended in 2005. During that time, he was the umpire in 92 test matches and 172 ODIs.
He was also the umpire in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 World Cup finals. David Shepherd is no longer with us, as he died in 2009.
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