Australian Simon Taufel will step down from the elite panelafter the World Twenty20 to take over the new role of umpire performance andtraining manager, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Wednesday.
ICC's chief executive officer Dave Richardson said Taufelwill now be involved in grooming the next generation of elite umpires. Taufelwill be replaced by Bruce Oxenford in the elite panel of ICC umpires.
"I am delighted that he will be working with us togroom and develop the next generation of elite umpires," said Richardson.
Taufel said his new role will help him to spend some moretime with his family.
"My wife and children have supported me immenselythroughout my career and it is time for me to spend more time with them. Mypassion for cricket umpiring and personal professional development has shiftedfrom on the field to off the field. In my new position as ICC UmpirePerformance and Training Manager, I look forward to help create professionalprogrammes and resources to support the current and future generations ofcricket match officials," he said.
The 41-year-old Taufel made his international debut inJanuary 1999 in an ODI between Australia in Sri Lanka in Sydney and 23 monthslater he made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test between Australia and theWest Indies.
In an outstanding career, Simon Taufel umpired in 74 Testsand 174 ODIs with his last Test and ODI appearances being at Lord's a month agoin matches featuring England and South Africa.
Taufel won the ICC Umpire of the Year award for fivesuccessive years from 2004 to 2008 and also had the honour of umpiring in theICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final between India and Sri Lanka at WankhedeStadium in Mumbai. He also stood in the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 2007and 2009 in South Africa and England respectively, as well as in the final ofthe ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in England along with Rudi Koertzen.