Taufel will become the first umpire to deliver the MCC lecture
Recently retired Australian umpire Simon Taufel has been chosen to deliver this year’s MCC lecture, making him the first umpire in history to ever do so.
Taufel is one of the most respected umpires and stood in his first Test match at the age of 29 in 2000.
He has been named as umpire of the year five successive times from 2004 to 2008 and stood in 74 Tests, 174 ODIs and 34 Twenty20 Internationals, the last of which was in the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 last September.
Taufel is the third Australian to deliver the lecture after Richie Benaud in 2001 and Adam Gilchrist in 2009.
He will also be the third non-international cricketer to deliver the speech after Christopher Martin-Jenkins in 2007 and Desmond Tutu in 2008.
“Simon Taufel has been one of the most respected umpires in world cricket for over a decade,” MCC president Mike Griffith said. “I am delighted that he has accepted the club’s invitation to give the thirteenth lecture.
“He will offer a unique insight into how the spirit of cricket preamble practically translates within the modern game. As a member of the MCC laws sub-committee, the club already benefits from his vast knowledge and experience to help tackle the key issues surrounding the game’s laws. I am very much looking forward to listening to him address the current areas of contention in the sport.”
Taufel admitted that he was initially in shock after being given the news, but later stated that he was honoured to have been chosen.
“I am delighted, honoured and humbled to be able to participate in such an important cricket event – I look forward to representing umpiring in this fine tradition and all that Lord Cowdrey stood for,” Taufel said.
The Cowdrey lecture dates back to 2001 in dedication of the late Lord Cowdrey, who, along with Ted Dexter, were the driving force behind the spirit of the game laws.
Previous lecturers have boasted such names as Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara in 2011, who was the youngest person to deliver the speech, former England captain Geoffrey Boycott and the legendary Clive Lloyd as well.