Credits: ICC/X
On Thursday, December 26, as Australia hosted India for the fourth of the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy Test, former Zimbabwe captain Andy Pycroft achieved a rare feat. As Pycroft stepped onto the field to officiate the highly-anticipated Boxing Day Test, he became the only fourth official in the history of men’s Test cricket to complete 100 games as a match referee. Notably, the Boxing Day Test between two of the biggest cricket-playing nations is being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
With his achievement, Pycroft joined the likes of former Sri Lankan player Ranjan Madugalle, New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe and England’s Chris Board. Madgulle holds the most experience as match referee with 225 Tests, followed by Crowe’s 125 Tests and Board’s 123 Tests. Pycroft played three Tests and 20 ODIs for Zimbabwe from 1983 to 1992. He has also officiated in 238 Men’s ODIs, 174 Men’s T20Is and 21 Women’’s T20Is since 2009.
It has been a great honour and pleasure: Andy Pycroft
As Pycroft completed his 100 match as a referee, he expressed his delight and said, “It has been a great honour and pleasure being on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees over the years, and to have been afforded the opportunity to officiate all over the world, embracing different cultures.”
He added, “I would like to thank the ICC for its support, my fellow Match Officials, past and present, for their professionalism and friendship, and my wife, Karen, and my family, for their encouragement and tolerance. Pycroft continued, “It has been a rewarding journey, and I have treasured every moment of it.”
