Dream Team: Match Referees XI

ICC match referees remain largely away from the gaze of the television cameras. And because most the referees are from a bygone past, their exploits are not widely known to the younger generation of cricket fans. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed 48 match referees thus far, many of whom have been stars players of their era. H Natarajan picks a Dream XI from the 30 available for selection.

A dream XI of comprising ICC match referees:

1:  Sunil Gavaskar

When he retired from the game, Sunil Gavaskar’s run-tally and hundreds were the most in Test cricket. A technician par excellence with an outstanding record against pace, his place in this team as one of the openers was a foregone conclusion.

2:  Bobby Simpson

The choice of opening the innings with Sunil Gavaskar was between Bobby Simpson, Raman Subba Row and Chris Broad. Not only was Simpson miles ahead of the other two as an opener of proven quality over a long period of time, but the Australian was also brilliant slip fielder — one of the greatest in the game — and a quality leg-spinner.

3:  Zaheer Abbas

The choice for the No 3 spot was between Zaheer Abbas and David Boon. And it was not easy to decide. Boon’s Test record was only fractionally behind the Pakistani. Zaheer, nicknamed “Asian Bradman”, pipped Boon considering he is a better bet to play a long innings. A master at scoring double hundreds, Zaheer also amassed 108 First-Class hundreds, including eight times a hundred in each innings, four of which were a double hundred and a hundred in the same match.

4:  Gundappa Viswanath

The choice for the No 4 slot was between Gundappa Viswanath and Peter May. The Englishman enjoyed a better batting average in Tests, but if there was one batsman who was showed rare brilliance on the most difficult of batting wickets, it was Vishy. He scored when others around him failed and he played some of the most iconic knocks of his era. And he did all that with the wristy elegance which made batting a visual feast.


5:  Everton Weekes

One of the the three Ws of West Indian cricket, Weekes was en epitome of consistency with the bat. He scored 15 hundreds and 19 half-centuries from 48 Tests and his 4455 runs came at an imposing average of 58.61.

6:  Clyde Walcott, wicket-keeper

Following Weekes in the order is another of the three great W’s —Clyde Walcott. He had voracious appetite for runs as his 15 hundreds and 14 fifties from just 44 Tests indicate. He scored 3798 runs at at an average of 56.68. He will also be wicket-keeper of this side.

7:  Clive Lloyd, captain

Probably two slots lower than one would have liked him to ideally bat at, but given the riches of the side, it was inevitable.  But Lloyd can bat more freely at this slot with the many run-machines ahead setting up a good total! He will also be the captain of a side that includes some of the finest cricketing brains.

8:  Asif Iqbal

Again, given the resources of the side, Asif Iqbal is coming a bit down the order. Asif brings in much value to the side as a busy batsman, handy bowler and brilliant fielder.

9:  Mike Procter

As one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the game, Mike Procter is huge boon to the side. Here is a man who can plunder a quick hundred or run through the side with ease with his wrong-footed bowling.

10:  S Venkataraghavan

Here is a man who, besides being a match referee, has worn many hats in his illustrious cricketing career. An off-spinner who bowled tight, a batsman who scored handy runs at the fag end of the innings and an exceptional close-in fielder, Venkat brings in multiple values to the side.

11:  Javagal Srinath

The Indian pacer will open the bowling with Procter. With most of the match referees being batsman,  there weren’t too many candidates to push Srinath for a fast bowling slot in this side

This is how the attack looks: Procter and Srinath will be  in-charge of new ball operations, with Asif and Lloyd chipping in as first and second-change respectively. Venkat (off) and Simpson (leg) will be in-charge of spin bowling. With such a varied and quality attack to back a very deep and dangerous batting line-up, the match-referees XI is truly frightening!

More stories from this writer:

Brad Hogg: 11 Jaw-dropping facts that puts Brad Hogg’s longevity in proper perspective

12 foreign cricketers with Indian connections

When Sachin Tendulkar bowled India to victory with one of the greatest last overs in ODI history

(H Natarajan is a journalistic schizophrenic who oscillates between two polar opposite forms of writing — analytical and insightful on the one hand, and rib-tickling humour on the other)