Quick Info
| Profession | Cricket Umpire |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Date of Birth | 21/01/1971 |
| Age | 55 years |
| Birthplace | St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Latest News about Simon Taufel
Simon Taufel's role with the Bangladesh Cricket Board came under public scrutiny during his latest visit to Bangladesh. Questions were raised about his influence across several BCB areas and a match referee payment he received during the Bangladesh Premier League. His position was described as uncertain at the time.
Simon Taufel was set to head the match officials panel for a fourth consecutive year for season 4 of the ILT20 league in the UAE. He was also due to serve as a match referee alongside Roshan Mahanama and as an on-field umpire in the opening match.
Simon Taufel commented on the Jamie Smith dismissal controversy during the Perth Test, defending the decision as correct after the DRS review. He also noted that technology used for edge detection can vary by region, which can affect how such incidents are interpreted.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board appointed Simon Taufel on a two-year contract to work across umpiring and match-officiating structures. His responsibilities include assessment and grading of umpires, reflecting a continued role in cricket administration beyond his on-field umpiring career.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full name | Simon James Arthur Taufel |
|---|
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 180 cm |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Salt and Pepper |
Personal Life
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|
Family
| Father | James Arthur Taufel |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Helen Taufel |
| Children |
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Career
| Umpiring debut at first-class level | 1994–95 season |
|---|---|
| International umpiring span | 1999–2012 (74 Tests, 174 ODIs, 34 T20Is) |
| ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager | 2012 to October 2015 |
| Cricket Australia | Match referee and umpire selection manager (after 2015) |
| Legends League Cricket | Director of Match Ethics and Regulations (2022) |
| ILT20 | Head of match officials panel, fourth consecutive season (season 4, 2025) |
| Bangladesh Cricket Board | Contracted to run umpire training and assessment programmes (2025 to 2026), with scrutiny of his role reported in April 2026 |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Simon Taufel, an Australian cricket umpire, has been an ICC Elite umpire panel member. | |
| 2. He won five consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year awards from 2004 to 2008. | |
| 3. Taufel captained his first XI in secondary school and later played for New South Wales Schoolboys Under-19s. | |
| 4. He was a fast-medium bowler for Cammeray Cricket Club in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association. | |
| 5. In the 1990-1991 season, he received the Cammeray Cricket Club's top award for fairness and skill. | |
| 6. Due to a back injury, Taufel transitioned from playing cricket to becoming an umpire. | |
| 7. Taufel joined the ICC's Elite Panel of Umpires in 2003. | |
| 8. He officiated in 74 test matches, 174 ODI matches, and 34 T20I matches between 1999 and 2012. | |
| 9. Taufel is the youngest recipient of the ICC's Bronze Bails Award. | |
| 10. In 2012, he retired from international cricket and became ICC's Umpire Performance and Training Manager. | |
| 11. Taufel held the position of ICC's Umpire Performance and Training Manager until October 2015. | |
| 12. He later became a match referee and umpire selection manager at Cricket Australia. | |
| 13. From 2013 to 2021, Taufel served as the deputy chairperson of the Southern Highlands PCYC. | |
| 14. In 2022, Legends League Cricket appointed him as the director of Match Ethics and Regulations. | |
| 15. In the same year, he launched an online accreditation course for umpires. | |
| 16. Taufel was named patron of the NSW Cricket Umpires Association in 2023. | |
| 17. He survived the 2009 Lahore terrorist attack while officiating a Test match in Pakistan. | |
| 18. In 2020, he joined the Channel Seven commentary team as an expert commentator for the 2020/21 test series. | |
| 19. He began umpiring at the age of 20 and made his debut as a first-class umpire in the 1994-95 season. | |
| 20. At age 32, he became the youngest member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires. | |
| 21. Cammeray Cricket Club, where he played, was the first club to win 25 premierships in the Northern Suburbs Cricket Association history. | |
| 22. In January 2026, he publicly suggested allowing one bowler to bowl a fifth over in T20 cricket, a proposal that drew wide debate. | |
| 23. He has advocated for the return of the umpire soft signal and has criticised the Impact Player rule and strategic breaks. |
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