By IANS,
Sydney : The International Cricket Council’s elite panel of umpires might face a crunch if the highly-rated Simon Taufel decides to call it a day, tired of the constant travel.
The ICC does not allow its umpires to stand Test matches in their own countries and that has taken a toll on them.
Taufel, the No. 1 umpire for the past four years, said he has grown tired of the constant travel because he was not allowed to stand in home Tests.
“It is important to spend time with my family, spend more time with my kids,” Taufel was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.
“I am always looking for new opportunities, not necessarily umpiring.” Taufel said.
Taufel is standing in the first Test, between England and New Zealand, which began at Lord’s Thursday.
Controversial umpire Darrel Hair, who was sacked following the Oval controversy, will be back in action in the second Test match in Manchester next week.
Hair completed a rehabilitation program since he was re-instated after he dropped a race discrimination claim against the ICC.
Hair said he wanted to stay at the elite level.
“I take pride in my decision-making out on the field. There is always something to do, there’s always something you feel you can do better.
“I don’t know if I will be able to do it better, but one thing’s for certain, I will be out there giving it my best shot.”
Hair, who has fallen out with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, said he was keen to focus on the “basics”.
“I suppose one of the things that you really focus on too much when you’re in the limelight is trying to get things right and how other people are going to perceive your decisions if you make a mistake,” he said.