Paul Reiffel

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Paul Reiffel bigraphy, stories - Australian cricketer and umpire

Paul Reiffel : biography

19 April 1966 –

Paul Ronald Reiffel (born 19 April 1966, Box Hill, Victoria) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 35 Tests and 92 ODIs from 1992 to 1999. He was part of Australia’s victorious 1999 World Cup team. After retirement he became a First Class cricket umpire. He is currently a member of the ICC Elite Umpire Panel.

Family

Reiffel’s father, Ron Reiffel, played for the Richmond Football Club. His grandfather, Lou Reiffel, was also an Australian rules footballer and played for both Melbourne and South Melbourne.

Playing career

Reiffel’s career best bowling figures of 6-71 came at Edgbaston in 1993. Throughout his career he took 104 wickets at 26.96 in 35 Tests, taking 5 or more wickets in an innings five times. An accurate bowler whose main attacking weapon was seam bowling, Reiffel was a more than handy batsman. While limited in his shotmaking ability, he had a solid defence. Reiffel was a Victorian cricket captain who was notorious for declaring the Victoria innings closed in 2001 with Michael Klinger on 99 not out.

Umpiring career

Reiffel made his first class umpiring debut in the 2004/2005 season after first umpiring in Melbourne grade cricket in 2002. Reiffel joined the Cricket Australia National Umpire’s Panel in the 2005/2006 season. He later became a member of the International Cricket Council International Panel of Umpires and Referees and made his international on-field umpiring debut in a One Day International match between Australia and New Zealand on 6 February 2009., Cricinfo, 6 February 2009. He also umpired in both tests of the West Indies-New Zealand Test Series in July–August 2012.

In June 2013, Reiffel was elevated to the ICC Elite Umpire Panel.