Bowden added to Ashes umpire panel

Cricket365
November 9, 2013

New Zealander Billy Bowden has been called up to the umpiring panel for the Ashes in Australia, despite being dropped from the Elite Panel earlier this year, in order to provide more variety for the series.

The Ashes in England saw only four umpires available due to neutrality rules, so Bowden was added by the ICC, leaving his countryman Tony Hill to be used exclusively as a TV umpire, ostensibly to provide consistency in that area.

ICC general manager of cricket operations, Geoff Allardice, said: "We felt that we needed to spread the appointments across five umpires for the five-Test series, rather than just the four that were used in the UK.

"Billy Bowden is the most experienced umpire on the International Panel, and understands what is needed for the umpiring team to perform well in high-profile Test matches.

"Appointing Tony Hill as TV umpire in three of the five matches is recognition that the role is becoming increasingly important in a DRS series. Having the same person in the chair more often should translate into more consistent decisions being made."

The umpiring during the Ashes earlier this year was a huge talking point, along with the use of DRS and the interpretation of those laws. More than one mistake was made, and it remains to be seen if Hot Spot and/or Snicko will be used in Oz.

Umpire appointments:

Brisbane – Dar, Dharmasena; Erasmus (TV umpire)<br>Adelaide – Erasmus, Dharmasena; Hill<br>Perth – Erasmus, Bowden; Hill<br>Melbourne – Dar, Dharmasena; Bowden<br>Sydney – Dar, Erasmus; Hill