New Delhi: After a decorated 18-year international career, South African umpire Marais Erasmus has announced his retirement. The first Test at Wellington between New Zealand and Australia will mark the 60-year-old’s farewell game.
Erasmus, widely considered one of the game’s best umpires, began his international career in a 2006 T20I between South Africa and Australia. Since then, he has donned the umpire’s hat in 80 Tests, 124 ODIs, and 43 T20Is for the men’s game, along with 18 T20Is for the women’s. Additionally, he served as the TV umpire in 131 international matches across formats.
Erasmus highlighted the time spent away from home as a key factor behind his decision. He made the call last October, informing the ICC of his intention to finish his contract in April.
The 60-year-old has an impressive list of accolades, including the prestigious ICC Umpire of the Year award, which he won three times (2016, 2017, 2021). This achievement places him second only to the legendary Simon Taufel, who has five such awards to his name.
Prior to his umpiring career, Erasmus was an accomplished cricketer himself. Playing for Boland, he competed in 53 first-class and 54 List-A matches, scoring over 2,000 runs and claiming 179 wickets as an all-rounder.
While stepping away from international cricket, Erasmus’ passion for the game remains strong. He plans to spend the initial winter months relaxing and traveling domestically before returning to officiate in South African domestic cricket starting in September. Additionally, he intends to play a mentoring role, sharing his vast experience with aspiring umpires.