STEVE Bucknor, the outstanding former international umpire, has congratulated Billy Doctrove on reaching 100 One-Day Internationals.
Bucknor, who retired in 2009 after standing in 128 Test matches and 181 One-Day Internationals, said he was happy to see his friend and colleague reach such a treasured milestone.
Doctrove, the 55-year-old from Dominica is a member of the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of umpires.
On Monday he stood in his 100th ODI as he took charge of the England v Pakistan match at Lord’s, London – joining an exclusive club of officials who have been involved in that many matches. After the match, ICC Director Giles Clarke presented Doctrove with a memento to mark the occasion.
Speaking from his home in Jamaica, Bucknor said: “Billy is an outstanding umpire and I am happy to see him reach this milestone. I want to congratulate him on reaching his 100th ODI. ‘Billy, you have been doing a very good job and I urge you to keep up the good work’.
“I expect you to continue to carry the flag for us, people of the West Indies, as you continue to make us proud. What you have achieved is special for all West Indians. Umpires across the West Indies will be able to look on and see that with hard work, dedication and when they strive to improve, they can achieve great things.”
Commenting on the milestone, ICC Umpires and Referees’ Manager Vince van der Bijl said: “Like us, Billy is delighted that his 100th ODI was at Lord’s. It’s a special occasion and a special venue. Billy is a strong, steadfast and dedicated umpire. Sport is his passion and his career.
The people of Dominica are justly proud of their countryman as their first FIFA soccer referee and their first ICC elite umpire.
This has been a wonderful year for Billy. In May this year, he umpired the first two ODIs ever to be played in Dominica, between the West Indies and South Africa. He joined the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in 2006 and has given excellent service. We congratulate him of this fine achievement.”
Doctrove made his international debut on April 4 1998 in a match between the West Indies and England in Kingstown, St Vincent, and since then has gone on to become one of the game’s most recognisable officials, also standing in 29 Tests so far.
A member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires since 2006, he stood in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and is the only person from Dominica to umpire at that level.
“I really feel honoured to have supervised my 100th ODI. I feel very proud and humble to have reached that significant milestone because when I started umpiring, I never thought I would have reached this milestone.
But this shows that with perseverance, patience and high level performance, you can reach the very top of your profession,” he said.