I am impressed with this guy. Even without the benefit of Hawkeye, ultra slow motion, snickometer etc, he is getting his decisions right, almost all the time*. And he always has such a professional attitude about him. No arrogance, like Hair and no childish gestures like Bowden (who is also a good umpire, by the way).
Asad Rauf kinda slipped on that Tendulkar decision. While I agree that you could pick up the glove-rub only in slow-motion, but I have no doubt that had Tauffel been there, he would have gotten that one right too. Don’t ask me why.
Tendulkar’s voluntary walk-off after caught-behind notwithstanding.
No doubt, Simon Taufel is one of the best umpire I have seen in my cricketing years. He follows one of the most important aspect of umpiring, which is to 'officiate without being official' He understands that the actual game is played by the players and he is their to moderate and apply the laws where necessary.
Some umpires are good with decision making, like Bucknor, and some are good at having a control of the match, such as Shep...but rarely you would see an umpire who is good at both. Taufel is one such example.
Fungi, why are you so intent on provoking the wrath of our resident Indians? Especially after how he adjudged His Holiness Lord SRT caught behind off Razzaq's bowling.
As far as i know Taufel use to go to net practice of the teams he has to deal wih while umpiring ...... therefore he has an edge over the other umpires as he has a clue or two more about the respective players than his coleagues
In my openion Aleem Dar is 2nd although he is having a bad time in last 2-3 months but thats just a bad patch just like players get ! Bucknor WAS the best at one time though!
I wouldn't give Harper too much credit on his umpiring skills. He has given some lunatic decisions while umpiring in Australia. But he definately has improved as of late.
I think Asad Rauf's unruffled approach to umpiring is something to keep an eye on. He can make a good umpire. He had a very good boxing day test in '05.
Taufel is a brilliant umpire no doubt. Only umpire that can match him in terms of credibility is Aleem Dar but he has been really disappointing of late and his performances have been patchy.
*