New Delhi: Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen passed away on August 9, Tuesday, in an accident. Koertzen was reportedly returning from playing a golf match with some of his friends when he met with the accident that occurred in an area in South Africa's Riverdale. Three other people. along with Koertzen, reportedly died in the accident.
Late Rudi Koertzen's son Rudi Koertzen Jr. has put forth some revelations.
“He went on a golf tournament with some of his friend, and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf," Rudi Koertzen Jr. was quoted as saying on Algoa FM News.
Rudi Koertzen is regarded as one of the most respected umpires in cricket history. His unique style of giving the out signal to the batsman at a slow pace is etched in the minds of cricket lovers forever. Koertzen became an umpire in 1981. He officiated in an international match for the first time in 1992 when India toured South Africa.
Rudi Koertzen is regarded as one of the most respected umpires in cricket history. His unique style of giving the out signal to the batsman at a slow pace is etched in the minds of cricket lovers forever, popularly called "the slow finger of death". Koertzen became an umpire in 1981. He officiated in an international match for the first time in 1992 when India toured South Africa.
At the age of 43, he officiated in his first Test at Port Elizabeth. This was the first series in which television replays were used to give run-outs. Significantly, umpire Rudi Koertzen is second on the list of umpires who have officiated in most matches in the history of men's cricket.
Most men's international matches as on-field umpire:
Aleem Dar – 400
Rudy Koertzen – 331
Steve Buckner – 309
Billy Bowden – 308
Simon Taufel – 282