Veteran umpire Marais Erasmus has decided to retire following the conclusion of the 2-match Test series between New Zealand and Australia, which began Thursday in Wellington. A former South African domestic cricket, Erasmus has been umpiring in international games since 2006. He has officiated in 80 Tests, 124 ODIs and 43 T20Is. He has stood in 18 women’s T20Is and held the seat of the TV umpire in 131 men’s internationals across formats.
“I’ll miss the privileges and the travelling. But I’ve had enough of being away and living outside of my comfort zone. I think having a more boring life is what I’m looking for. I decided in October last year and I informed the ICC that I would finish my contract in April and that would be that,” Erasmus was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Marais Erasmus used to be a seam-bowling all-rounder for Boland in South Africa’s domestic circuit, before transitioning as an umpire. He won the ICC Umpire of the Year award thrice — in 2016, 2017, and 2021, leveling alongside Richard Kettleborough and Aleem Dar in a list topped by Simon Taufel, who got the honour five times. He joined the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires from 2010.
Asked about his plans after retiring from international umpiring, Erasmus said, “For the first couple of months I’m just going to take the winter off. We have some travel planned domestically, and from September I’ll be in the hands of CSA.”
“We still need to finalise how they want to use me. I’ll umpire in domestic cricket next season and play a mentoring role. I might go to the Khaya Majola Week (a school event) or the club championships, and I’ll be watching and advising umpires,” he added.
Speaking about things he would miss post-retirement, he said, “The challenge of the job, being in that moment of trying to get it right. That’s always something special and tough, and it’s exhilarating when you have a good game.”
“There’s lots of camaraderie because we’re all in it together even though there’s competition between the guys. We all understand the highs and the lows, and that when someone is going through a rough period you need to support him because your turn will come.
“To have seen the best players and been to the iconic venues and World Cups is a massive privilege. It’s been quite a journey from being a schoolboy who kept score while watching Eddie Barlow play at Newlands,” he concluded.
(With Agency Inputs)
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