Joel Wilson is Elite No More
Author: Tom Penn
Updated At:
"Joel, I'm going to ask you to change your decision, you're back on screen now mate" is a phrase which regular watchers of international cricket have become accustomed to over the last six or seven years. But it is one which cricket fans will no longer hear being said by the TV Umpire as Joel Wilson, along with Michael Gough have both been removed from the ICC elite of umpires for 2025-26.
As we have already seen in this year's Indian Premier League, officiating at the top level is far from easy so we take a look back at Wilson and Gough's time at the peak of their careers and look ahead to see who will be on the elite list over the next 12 months.
Joel Wilson
Born in Trinidad, Wilson has officiated international fixtures from 2011 onwards after taking charge of his first game at that level when India took on West Indies in Kingston during June 2011. Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli hit 94, but it was one of the men officiating who we are highlighting today.
International Umpire
| Format | Matches | Umpire | TV Umpire |
| Tests | 67 | 47 | 20 |
| ODIs | 140 | 98 | 42 |
| T20Is | 71 | 50 | 21 |
| WODIs | 13 | 13 | n/a |
| WT20Is | 19 | 16 | 3 |
Wilson was promoted to the ICC elite during the 2019/20 season but he has long been associated with incorrect calls and leading to players having to make regular moves for DRS reviews! Most famously, he gave Ben Stokes 'not-out' against Australia during his monumental innings at Headingley during the 2019 Ashes, and with no reviews available, Pat Cummins' side were unable to rectify the mistake or win the game.
Michael Gough
While there was no surprise to see Wilson removed from the list, there were some raised eyebrows over the decision to axe England's Michael Gough who ed the man from Trinidad on the elite during 2019/20.
Durham born Gough was famous for getting the big calls right and earnt the respect of fans, players and his fellow umpires across his time at the top level.'
International Umpire
| Format | Matches | Umpire | TV Umpire |
| Tests | 60 | 42 | 18 |
| ODIs | 137 | 92 | 45 |
| T20Is | 41 | 28 | 13 |
| WODIs | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| WT20Is | 15 | 11 | 4 |
The New Boys
Although the end has come for Wilson and Gough, two new names have stepped up to take their places. South Africa's 47 year old Allahuddien Paleker and 49 year old Alex Wharf, who played 13 ODIs for England from 2004 - 2005, are the new faces in the elite list.
The Full List
- Khumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)
- Chris Gaffney (New Zealand)
- Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
- Richard Illingworth (England)
- Richard Kettleborough (England)
- Nitin Menon (India)
- Allahuddien Paleker (South Africa)
- Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)
- Paul Reiffel (Australia)
- Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid (Bangladesh)
- Rod Tucker (Australia)
- Alex Wharf (England)
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