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Umpire Bruce Oxenford announces retirement from international cricket

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Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford has announced retirement from international cricket and ended his 15-year-long career as the umpire at the highest level of the game. Oxenford was one of the members on the ICC Elite Panel and officiated in 62 Test matches. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a statement of Oxenford in which the 60-year-old looks back on his career that gave him the opportunity to judge close to 200 international games.

"I look back with pride at my international career as an umpire. It is still hard to believe that I officiated in close to 200 international matches. Such a long career was not really something that I had hoped for before commencing on this journey," said Oxenford in an ICC statement.

Oxenford made his umpiring debut at the international stage in 2006 in a T20 game between Australia and South Africa at the Gabba where coincidentally he finished his career as well when he stood in the final Test of the Australian summer against India at the same ground.

Oxenford thanked Cricket Australia, ICC and his colleagues with whom he has served for the game and received a lot of guidance and support for that.

"I would like to thank the International Cricket Council, Cricket Australia and all my colleagues in the ICC Elite and International panels for their support and encouragement over the years," he said.

"I had a wonderful time as a match official and will miss the camaraderie that comes with being a part of such a professional group. I shall particularly miss seeing and interacting with the magnificent people who are part of the support structure of our game around the world."

Meanwhile, he also announced that his service will continue in domestic cricket.

"Whilst I will no longer stand in International matches, I look forward to continuing to serve the game that I love - officiating within Australia," he added.

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