Reiffel elevated to elite panel

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Reiffel’s elevation to the Panel following his performances as a member of the International Panel of ICC Umpires and several strong seasons as one of the leading umpires in Australia.

Reiffel joins fellow Australians Rod Tucker, Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis, on the Panel of 12 umpires.

Cricket Australia also announced the National Umpiring Panel for the up-coming season with four Victorians, Ash Barrow, Geoff Joshua, John Ward and Tony Ward, selected.

The four Victorians’ presence on the panel, combined with Reiffel’s promotion, further entrenches the state as the leader in the industry with 43% of accredited umpires coming from Victoria in 2012.

After retiring from first-class cricket in 2002, after claiming a record 319 Sheffield Shield wickets for the Bushrangers, Reiffel made his first-class umpiring debut in 2004-05.

Reiffel joined CA’s National Umpires Panel the following season and to date he has officiated in four Tests, 30 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and nine Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

“When I first started on CA’s Project Panel Umpires program after retiring from first-class cricket my aim was to reach the highest level of international umpiring,” Reiffel said.

“It always seemed a long way off so it’s very rewarding and exciting to achieve the goal I set myself when I first started umpiring.

“I’d like to thank Cricket Australia for their support throughout my umpiring career. The umpiring system and pathway in Australia is very good, which is evidenced by the quality of Australian umpires.”