In the lead-up to the highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia, the announcement of on-field umpires has triggered a wave of unease among Indian fans. The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) revelation that Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough will officiate the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has cast a shadow over the cricketing spectacle scheduled for Sunday. The appointment of these seasoned umpires, especially Kettleborough, has stirred discomfort among Indian supporters.
Richard Kettleborough’s selection as an on-field umpire for the World Cup final may not be received warmly by Indian fans, given his frequent presence in crucial knockout matches involving the Men in Blue. Since India’s last ICC title in the Champions Trophy in 2013, Kettleborough has officiated in seven out of the eight knockout matches India has played in various ICC events. His role ranged from being the on-field umpire in pivotal encounters, such as the 2014 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka and the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, to serving as the TV umpire in the World Test Championship finals against New Zealand and Australia.
Interestingly, the only ICC knockout match of India that Kettleborough was not a part of was the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. However, this exclusion did not alter India’s fate, as they succumbed to a defeat by 10 wickets.
Richard Illingworth, the other on-field umpire for the final, is not far behind in terms of India’s recent struggles in knockout matches. He has been the on-field umpire in three out of India’s last eight ICC knockout encounters, further adding to the anxiety of Indian fans.
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The repetitive presence of Illingworth and Kettleborough in India matches can be attributed to the ICC’s playing conditions, which mandate the inclusion of neutral umpires in ICC events. As India and England have crossed paths only once in ICC knockout matches in the last 12 years, the English duo, both part of the ICC elite panel, has become a familiar sight in India’s crucial encounters.
Despite the apprehensions surrounding their selection, it’s crucial to acknowledge the vast experience and accolades of Illingworth and Kettleborough. Both umpires, promoted to the ICC International List on the same day in November 2009, are past recipients of the prestigious David Shepherd Trophy, awarded to the ICC’s Umpire of the Year. Kettleborough secured this honor consecutively from 2013 to 2015, while Illingworth added his name to the list in 2019 and 2022.
Joining Illingworth and Kettleborough in the final will be Joel Wilson as the third umpire, Chris Gaffaney as the fourth umpire, and match referee Andy Pycroft. These officials previously played roles in the semi-finals, contributing to the overall officiating teams for the culmination of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
As the cricketing world braces for the spectacle that the World Cup final promises to be, the choice of umpires has inadvertently become a topic of discussion. The potential impact of past experiences and outcomes on the psyche of fans remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the cricketing universe will be closely watching every decision made by Illingworth and Kettleborough in the high-stakes encounter between India and Australia.