KNYSNA NEWS - Legendary Knysna-born cricket umpire Rudi Koertzen has passed away at the age of 73. Koertzen was known right around the world for his signature 'slow finger of death' that became his trademark signalling out for a batter's dismissal in cricket.
Koertzen was killed in a car accident on Tuesday morning, 9 August, near Riversdale as he and friends were driving back to Despatch after a golfing weekend in Cape Town.
An article on East Coast Radio's website reads as follows: "His son, Rudi Koertzen Jr, says his father died on impact. 'There were two cars involved in the accident.
'There were three occupants with my father, that died during the accident. It seems like my father died on impact. He went to town on a golf tournament with some of his friends. They were expected to come back yesterday, it seems like they pushed another day of golf, so they left Cape Town this morning.'."
Early life
Koertzen was a beloved member of the international cricketing community with a long, distinguished and decorated career of umpiring at the highest levels. He was born in 1949 in Knysna and took to cricket at an early age like a duck to water.
He started umpiring in 1981 before becoming a full-time umpire in 1992, at the age of 43. On 9 December that year he made his ODI debut in a match between South Africa and India, before going to make his test debut in the Boxing Day test match between the same two countries.
Incredible umpiring career
An incredible 18-year career of top-level umpiring followed in which he stood and officiated in 108 test matches, 209 ODIs and 14 T20Is. He became a full-time International Cricket Council (ICC) umpire in 1997 and was one of the original members of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires when it was founded in 2002.
A highly revered and respected umpire, Koertzen had a level of professionalism that never faltered - the perfect example of this was in 1999 when he refused a bribe to fix the outcome of the final of the Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge between the West Indies and India.
Umpiring accolades
In June 2010, Koertzen announced his decision to retire from umpiring. He stood in his final ODI on 9 June 2010, between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, and in his final test from 21 to 24 July 2010, between Pakistan and Australia.
He has officiated the third-most test matches and is one of only three umpires to pass 100 test matches; he umpired the second-most ODIs and is again one of only three to reach the 200-mark.
He has also been decorated by the ICC for his achievements. He has received the ICC Bronze Bails Award for 100 ODIs, ICC Silver Bails Award for 200 ODIs and the ICC Golden Bails Award for 100 Tests. Koertzen was the first umpire to earn all three of these awards and the feat has since only been achieved by Aleem Dar.
Over and above his achievements at international level, Koertzen was never one to shy away from ploughing back into the development of cricket.
He regularly lent a hand as an umpire at local cricket festivals in Knysna organised by Keith Cretchley, and became a mainstay of Knysna Villagers tournaments held by Cretchley just outside Rheenendal.
Tribute to his memory
Cricketing SA's board chairperson, Lawson Naidoo, also expressed his sadness. "Rudi departs at the time when cricket is beginning to enjoy the fruit of his toil. His passing has robbed us of a giant upon [whose] foundation we now stand. While this is a sad day for cricket in South Africa, we are however comforted by the many lessons of servitude and servant leadership he has left behind for us to embody and emulate."
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