High praise for South African Umpire

South African umpire Rudi Koertzen has received the ultimate accolade from the world's leading cricketers. In a poll conducted as part of a questionnaire completed by all the players in the recent ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, Koertzen was voted the best umpire in the world (28% of the votes).

High praise indeed for the 54-year-old from Despatch who is one of two South Africans on the ICC Elite Umpires panel, (the other is Dave Orchard). England's David Shepherd was second (25%).

The players also cast their votes for the world's best batsmen, bowler and fielder, and in the latter category Jonty Rhodes polled the second highest vote in the entire survey (75%). Australian Rick Ponting was second (20%) and Herschelle Gibbs third (2%).

Amongst the bowlers, South African captain Shaun Pollock was voted third best ODI bowler (7%), behind Glenn McGrath (46%) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran (39%).The Australian and the Sri Lankan were also the top two bowlers in the Test match vote.

Predictably India's Sachin Tendulkar dominated the batting vote; in Test cricket he polled 78% to second-placed Australian Steve Waugh (6%), and in ODI cricket the margin was a little closer - Tendulkar polling 51% to Adam Gilchrist's 16%.

Cape Town's Newlands ground was voted the third best ground in the world by the players (15%) with Lord's in London leading (27%) and Melbourne's MCG second (24%).

The survey was commissioned by the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA) as part of an information-gathering process.