Crowe to complete half-century of Tests as match referee

 New Zealand's Jeff Crowe will become only the fifth member of the ICC's panel of Match Referees to complete a half-century of Tests when he takes the field for toss in the first Test between the West Indies and Australia in Bridgetown tomorrow.

"Jeff Crowe will become the fifth member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees to complete a half-century of Tests. Mr Crowe will achieve the milestone on Saturday when he takes the field for the coin toss in Bridgetown for the first Test between the West Indies and Australia," the ICC said in a statement.

Crowe made his Test debut as a Match Referee in October 2004 – seven months after being included in the elite panel – in a Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Faisalabad.

After eight years and at the age of 53, he stands as the fifth most experienced match referee overall after Ranjan Madugalle (134), Clive Lloyd (53), Chris Broad (51) and John Reid (50).
Crowe has also stood in 165 ODIs which makes him the fourth most experienced referee behind Madugalle 265), Broad (202) and Roshan Mahanama (179). With 29 Twenty20 Internationals under his belt, he is the third most experienced referee in the arena after Madugalle (46) and Broad (42).
As an international player for New Zealand, Crowe played in 39 Tests, six as captain, and 75 ODIs between 1983 and 1990. He scored 1,601 runs in Tests and 1,518 runs in ODIs.

"I am very fortunate to be in an exclusive club of people who have done 50 or more Tests as a match referee. In reaching this milestone the support and cooperation has been significant from my family, the respected colleagues in the international and elite panel of match officials and the fine people at the ICC," Crowe said.

"Jeff is a very experienced, professional and well-respected ICC match referee, and we are delighted to celebrate with him, his officiating of his 50th Test match," said ICC umpire and referee manager, Vince van der Bijl.