Referee Marais Erasmus with Nathan Lyon
AUS vs. NZ: A two-match Test series will be played between Australia and New Zealand. Before the start of this series, New Zealand’s star player Neil Wagner announced his retirement. Meanwhile, another star will retire after the first game of this series. This star is none other than the experienced South African referee Marais Erasmus. Marais Erasmus is a referee in his last international match. This game will be played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. Where the New Zealand team won the toss and decided to bowl.
Erasmus is part of the ICC’s elite body
Erasmus is one of the best umpires who is part of the ICC’s elite panel and his decision to retire will have a huge impact on the ICC and international cricket. Adrian Holdstock will be the only South African referee on the ICC’s elite panel following the retirement of Erasmus Illustrious. In a freewheeling conversation with Cricbuzz, Erasmus revealed that he had decided to resign in October last year and informed the ICC of his decision.
What did Erasmus say?
“I made the decision in October last year and told the ICC that I would be terminating my contract in April and that would be it,” Erasmus said. We can tell you that he has won the David Shepherd Trophy, the top umpiring award in cricket, three times. This award is presented by the ICC. Erasmus believes that being a referee is a demanding job. The challenge of the work, he said, is getting everything right in that moment. It’s always special and difficult, and exciting when you play well.
Erasmus has won the ICC Referee of the Year award three times (2016, 2017 and 2021), second only to Australia’s Simon Taufel, who has won the title five times. Erasmus has officiated 80 red-ball matches, 124 ODIs and 43 T20Is as an on-field umpire. It is noteworthy that Erasmus has not yet completed his work as a referee and after his retirement he can be seen as a referee in the South African domestic circuit.
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