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Veteran Umpire Richard Kettleborough Set To Become England’s Most-Capped Test Umpire

Akshita Patel

Richard Kettleborough to script umpiring record [Source: @ICC/X.com]Richard Kettleborough to script umpiring record [Source: @ICC/X.com]

English umpire Richard Kettleborough is on the verge of making history. He is set to stand in his 93rd Test match when the West Indies take on Australia in Grenada on Friday. This will make him the most-capped English on-field umpire in Test cricket.

Born in Sheffield, Kettleborough began his Test umpiring career 15 years ago in Galle, Sri Lanka. Since then, he has built a strong reputation for fairness, calmness, and consistency on the field. 

Richard Kettleborough To Script History In WI vs AUS Test

The upcoming Test match between West Indies and Australia, scheduled at Grenada on July 3, will be Richard Kettleborough’s 93rd Test match as an umpire. With that, he will become the England umpire to officiate in the most Test matches, moving him ahead of his mentor, the late David Shepherd.

Kettleborough, 52, called it a “huge honour” and said he never imagined reaching this point. He told the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that he is proud of his journey and achievements in the game.

"I honestly never imagined it would happen, but I'm very proud of my achievements. To overtake the late, great David Shepherd – who was one of my idols growing up – is something I'm very proud of," Kettleborough said.

Interestingly, Kettleborough has already stood in some of the game’s biggest matches, including Ashes Tests and World Cup fixtures. His milestone brings him one step closer to the global record, held by Aleem Dar of Pakistan, who has officiated in 145 Tests, the most in history.

Kettleborough’s Transition To Umpiring

Richard Allan Kettleborough is on track to become England’s most-capped Test umpire. Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in 1973, he began his first-class career with Yorkshire and Middlesex, even scoring a century in 33 matches.

Transitioning to umpiring, he joined the ECB first-class panel in 2006, debuted internationally in a T20I in 2009, and took charge of his first Test in Galle in November 2010. Kettleborough quickly rose through the ranks, joining the ICC Elite Panel in May 2011, and has since officiated in three consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year wins.