Daryl Harper
Encyclopedia
Daryl John Harper, is an Australian cricket umpire
, who was a Test umpire between 1998 and 2011. He was a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires from 2002 until 2011 when the ICC announced that Harper was being stood down at the termination of his contract in July 2011. In June 2011, following criticism from India during the India-West Indies Test series Harper retired from umpiring.
umpire
before injury forced him to quit.
competition for the Teachers' College and East Torrens clubs.
Harper made his first appearance in an international fixture in January 1994 when he umpired a One Day International (ODI) in Perth between New Zealand and South Africa. In November 1998 Harper made his test match
debut when appointed to stand in the 2nd Ashes
test at the WACA ground
alongside umpire Venkat
; Harper also stood at the MCG in the 4th test of that series. After promotion to the National Grid Panel of International Umpires, Harper also began to appear in Test matches away from Australia as the designated independent umpire.
In 2002 the International Cricket Council
(ICC
) introduced a policy of two independent umpires standing in each Test match, and one independent & one home umpire in ODIs. The independent umpires would be chosen from a newly conceived ICC Elite umpire panel
comprising the ICC’s determination of the top 8 - 10 umpires from around the world. Harper was included in the original line up for this panel, at the time chosen over fellow Australians Simon Taufel
and Darrell Hair
(both of whom subsequently joined the panel in 2003). Harper umpired the opening match of the 2003 Cricket World Cup
in South Africa, and went on to stand in one of the semi-finals. On 31 August 2005 he adjudicated in his 100th ODI, a match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Harare.
He was the third umpire for a trial of the 'player referral' system in 2009, where he made a series of errors. In 2010 England lodged a formal complaint against Harper after a referred caught behind decision was turned down due to the volume on the replay not being high enough to detect the edge. Many players including former English Cricket Team captain Nasser Hussain
demanded removal of Harper from any type of umpiring panel. The ICC later found that while the sound was audible on Sky's TV's overseas coverage the equipment supplied by the home broadcaster was inferior. The ICC dropped Harper from the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
due to "general performance reasons".
The ICC announced their decision to demote Harper from the Elite Panel in May 2011. The ICC subsequently revealed that Harper would stand in two last Test matches; between West Indies and India at Sabina Park
and Windsor Park
. Harper retired from umpiring following some heavy criticism from India during the first test against the West Indies. Dave Richardson, the ICC Cricket manager, said Harper received "unfair criticism" from the Indian players and that his correct decision making percentage against India was at 96 percent, which was "considerably above average". He was replaced for the third Test by Richard Kettleborough
. . In a widely reported interview, Harper candidly agreed with his mistakes in that test "one LBW against Harbhajan that would have been reversed had Decision Review System been available. I also failed to detect a no ball when West Indian Bishoo's backfoot touched the side or return crease".
Awards
Ambassadorship
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
, who was a Test umpire between 1998 and 2011. He was a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires from 2002 until 2011 when the ICC announced that Harper was being stood down at the termination of his contract in July 2011. In June 2011, following criticism from India during the India-West Indies Test series Harper retired from umpiring.
Biography
Harper was born in the Adelaide suburb of Mile End in 1951 and attended Norwood High School before taking up primary school teaching. He had a brief career as an Australian rules footballAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
umpire
Umpire (Australian rules football)
An umpire is an official in the sport of Australian rules football.-Origins:Unlike many other codes of football, where the official is called a referee, in Australian Football, the officials borrow their title from the game of cricket, which is played on the same types of fields and was an...
before injury forced him to quit.
Playing career
Harper played as a right-handed batsman in Adelaide grade cricketSouth Australian Grade Cricket League
South Australian Grade Cricket is the semi-professional State league based in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. It is currently the highest level of cricket played in South Australia outside first class cricket...
competition for the Teachers' College and East Torrens clubs.
Umpiring
In 1983 he switched to umpiring, making his first-class cricket debut in 1987.Harper made his first appearance in an international fixture in January 1994 when he umpired a One Day International (ODI) in Perth between New Zealand and South Africa. In November 1998 Harper made his test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
debut when appointed to stand in the 2nd Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
test at the WACA ground
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
alongside umpire Venkat
Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan ; is a former Indian cricketer. He played for Derbyshire in English county cricket from 1973 to 1975. He played Test cricket for the Indian cricket team, and later became an umpire on the elite International Cricket Council Test panel...
; Harper also stood at the MCG in the 4th test of that series. After promotion to the National Grid Panel of International Umpires, Harper also began to appear in Test matches away from Australia as the designated independent umpire.
In 2002 the International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
(ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
) introduced a policy of two independent umpires standing in each Test match, and one independent & one home umpire in ODIs. The independent umpires would be chosen from a newly conceived ICC Elite umpire panel
ICC Elite umpire panel
The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires is a panel of cricket umpires appointed by the International Cricket Council to officiate in Test matches and One Day Internationals around the world....
comprising the ICC’s determination of the top 8 - 10 umpires from around the world. Harper was included in the original line up for this panel, at the time chosen over fellow Australians Simon Taufel
Simon Taufel
Simon James Arthur Taufel, , is an Australian cricket umpire who is a member of the ICC Elite umpire panel...
and Darrell Hair
Darrell Hair
Darrell Bruce Hair is an Australian former Test match cricket umpire, from New South Wales. He stood on the Emirates International panel of umpires from 2002 to 2003, before he, along with fellow Australian Simon Taufel, and New Zealander Billy Bowden, was appointed to the ICC Elite umpire panel...
(both of whom subsequently joined the panel in 2003). Harper umpired the opening match of the 2003 Cricket World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
in South Africa, and went on to stand in one of the semi-finals. On 31 August 2005 he adjudicated in his 100th ODI, a match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Harare.
He was the third umpire for a trial of the 'player referral' system in 2009, where he made a series of errors. In 2010 England lodged a formal complaint against Harper after a referred caught behind decision was turned down due to the volume on the replay not being high enough to detect the edge. Many players including former English Cricket Team captain Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain OBE is a former Essex and England cricketer.Beginning his career in a strong Essex side in the late 1980s, he was an outstanding fielder and a stylish but inconsistent batsman. In first-class cricket from 1987 to 2004 Hussain scored 20,698 runs in 334 matches at an average of 42.06,...
demanded removal of Harper from any type of umpiring panel. The ICC later found that while the sound was audible on Sky's TV's overseas coverage the equipment supplied by the home broadcaster was inferior. The ICC dropped Harper from the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
2010 ICC World Twenty20
-------------------------------------------------Group A:---------Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:...
due to "general performance reasons".
The ICC announced their decision to demote Harper from the Elite Panel in May 2011. The ICC subsequently revealed that Harper would stand in two last Test matches; between West Indies and India at Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
and Windsor Park
Windsor Park (Dominica)
Windsor Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Roseau, Dominica. It also serves as the national stadium and is currently used mostly for cricket matches...
. Harper retired from umpiring following some heavy criticism from India during the first test against the West Indies. Dave Richardson, the ICC Cricket manager, said Harper received "unfair criticism" from the Indian players and that his correct decision making percentage against India was at 96 percent, which was "considerably above average". He was replaced for the third Test by Richard Kettleborough
Richard Kettleborough
Richard Allan Kettleborough is an English international cricket umpire, and former first-class cricketer who appeared in 33 first-class matches for Yorkshire and Middlesex...
. . In a widely reported interview, Harper candidly agreed with his mistakes in that test "one LBW against Harbhajan that would have been reversed had Decision Review System been available. I also failed to detect a no ball when West Indian Bishoo's backfoot touched the side or return crease".
International Umpiring Statistics
As of 4 June 2010:| First | Latest | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | Australia v England at Perth WACA Ground The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association.... , Nov 1998 |
New Zealand v Pakistan at Wellington, Jan 2011 | 94 |
| ODIs | New Zealand v South Africa at Perth WACA Ground The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association.... , Jan 1994 |
Bangladesh v South Africa at Dhaka, March 2011 | 174 |
| T20Is | South Africa v West Indies at Johannesburg Wanderers Stadium BIDVest Wanderers Stadium is a stadium situated just south of Sandton in Illovo, Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Test, One Day and First class cricket matches are played here. It is also the home ground for the Highveld Lions, formerly known as Gauteng .The stadium has a seating... , Sep 2007 |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lord's, Jun 2009 | 10 |
Awards
- ICC Bronze Bails AwardBronze Bails AwardThe Bronze Bails Award in the sport of Cricket, is award given by the International Cricket Council to umpires who have officiated in 100 One Day Internationals.-Recipients:Bronze Bails awardees include:* Steve Bucknor...
for 100 ODIs.
Ambassadorship
- In March 2009, Daryl Harper, was announced as an ambassador for OranaOrana IncorporatedOrana Incorporated is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a diverse range of training and support services to over five hundred people with disabilities and their families in South Australia.The Mentally Retarded Children’s Society of SA Inc...
, an AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
company providing employment for people with disabilities. - He is an ambassador for The Adelaide Crows.