Globally beloved umpire Marais Erasmus announces retirement

Umpire Marais Erasmus, a stalwart of international cricket officiating, has announced his retirement from the game. The esteemed 60-year-old from South Africa has had a distinguished career, overseeing matches across formats and continents.

Erasmus’s final assignment will be the upcoming Test series between New Zealand and Australia, marking the end of an illustrious journey spanning 80 Tests, 124 ODIs, and 43 T20 matches. His contributions extended beyond the men’s game, as he also officiated in 18 Women’s T20 matches with equal aplomb.

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 “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 told Cricbuzz.

“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.”

– Marais Erasmus

The South African umpire’s prowess and dedication to the craft were recognized with the prestigious ICC Umpire of the Year award on three occasions, a testament to his excellence in ensuring fair play and upholding the spirit of the game.

In reflecting on his decision to retire, Erasmus stated that he had informed the ICC of his intentions in October the previous year, emphasizing that his departure was not prompted by age but rather a natural progression in his career.

Prior to his illustrious umpiring career, Erasmus also graced the field as a cricketer, representing South Africa in first-class matches, further enriching his understanding of the game and enhancing his ability to adjudicate with authority.

As Erasmus bids farewell to the international cricketing fraternity, his legacy as one of the finest umpires of his generation will endure, leaving an indelible mark on the sport he served with distinction for decades.

Erasmus spoke to the news platform The Statesman about his plans after retiring from international umpiring, “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”.

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He added, “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 schools event) or the club championships, and I’ll be watching and advising umpires.”

Speaking on what he would miss the most about being an umpire in international cricket, 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”.

“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,” Erasmus said.