ICC World Cup 2019: Umpire Ian Gould to retire after India-Sri Lanka clash

Ian Gould is among the most respected and efficient umpires in the cricketing circuit. 13 years ago, he made his umpiring debut at the highest level with a T20 International between England and Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Gould has officiated in 74 Tests and is currently plying his trade in the ODI between Sri Lanka and India at the Headingley in Leeds which is the penultimate match of the league stage.

The 2019 World Cup game is set to mark his last appearance as an umpire in the International Cricket Council (ICC) elite panel. He will call it time after as many as four World Cup appearances. The 61-year-old will bring the curtains down on his career with his 140th One-Day International.

In 2006, he was assigned to officiate in his maiden ODI and in the subsequent year, he got the first taste of a World Cup. Since then he has been a part of quite a few high profile and important matches, including the final of the Champions Trophy 2004 between England and the West Indies in London that the Caribbean team won. He was also one of the on-field umpires for the high-pressure game – India vs Pakistan, World Cup 2011 semi-final. Apart from a stupendous umpiring career, Gould was an efficient cricketer as well in his playing days.

Ian Gould- A more than handy cricketer

The Buckinghamshire-born as a wicketkeeper-batsman represented England at the highest level in 18 ODIs in which he could only score 155 runs at an average of 12.91 with a top score of 42. However, he had an illustrious career at the domestic level. In 298 first-class games, he racked up 8,756 runs with four centuries and 47 half-centuries. In List A cricket, Gould ended with 4,377 runs with 20 fifties.

As a keeper, Gould took more than 750 catches and inflicted over 100 stumpings in his cricketing career. He also kept wickets for the Three Lions at the 1983 World Cup. He had a nickname of Gunner owing to the time he spent in the Arsenal youth setup before he settled into cricket. Gould played for Sussex, Middlesex and even had a stint in New Zealand with Auckland. But it was his umpiring career that brought him a lot more recognition.