In a move to maintain neutrality, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its officials for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final to be played between India and New Zealand. ICC disclosed the appointments through their media release on the official website.
The all-important match will be played at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton from 18-22 June. All four officials belong to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Referees. Coincidentally all three officials (two on-field umpires and a match referee) are former English players turned umpires or referees.
Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees will oversee the proceedings while Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires will be the on-field officials for the match.
Richard Kettleborough, also a member of the elite panel, will be the TV umpire, and Alex Wharf of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires the fourth official.
ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees, Adrian Griffith: “We are pleased to announce an experienced team of match officials for the final of the World Test Championship.”
“It has not been an easy time with the pandemic, but we are fortunate to have a group of officials at the top of their field who have been consistent over the years in this momentous fixture. We wish them all the very best.”
(with inputs from ICC’s official website)
