Paul Reiffel has reached a century of ODIs as an on-field umpire, adding another milestone to a career that has taken him from playing international cricket to officiating it. He completed his 100th match in the role during the third ODI between New Zealand and India in Hamilton.
According to the ICC's November 11 announcement, he reached the landmark in Hamilton. Reiffel is the 23rd umpire to stand in at least 100 ODIs and the sixth Australian, joining Daryl Harper, Simon Taufel, Darrell Hair, Steve Davis and Rod Tucker.
From player to international umpire
Reiffel joined Australia's national umpire panel in 2005. His appointment to the ICC International Panel followed in 2008, making him the first former Australia Test cricketer to reach that panel. His ODI umpiring debut came in Melbourne in February 2009, in a match between Australia and New Zealand.
Promotion to the Elite Panel arrived in June 2013. The ICC announcement highlighted his 13 years at that level and the consistency required to maintain the role. His career therefore connects experience as an international player with a later period of responsibility in the middle.
Major tournaments and a distinctive double
Reiffel has officiated at the men's Cricket World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2023, as well as the Champions Trophy editions in 2017 and 2025. Those appointments form part of the route to the ODI century, which counts his on-field work rather than every possible match-official assignment.
He also shares a distinctive distinction with Kumar Dharmasena: they are the only two men to have both played in and umpired in 90 ODIs. The playing record and umpiring record describe separate parts of their careers; the milestone in Hamilton belongs to Reiffel's officiating work.
Reiffel thanked the ICC, Cricket Australia, fellow officials, family and friends for their support. He also expressed a wish to remain involved in more matches, presenting the century as another stage in the journey rather than an announcement that his time as an umpire is ending.
