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Cricket

Hair to return to umpiring in England-New Zealand Tests

28/04/2008

Darrell Hair, the umpire who was at the centre of the controversy over alleged ball tampering by Pakistan in 2006, will stand in two Tests between England and New Zealand.

The controversial Australian will join countryman Simon Taufel in the middle for the second match of the three-Test series at Old Trafford, which begins on May 23rd.

And Hair will also stand alongside Steve Bucknor of the West Indies in the third Test at Trent Bridge on June 5th.

It will be the first time Hair has umpired in the UK since he was removed from the elite panel of umpires 18 months ago.

He was criticised for his role in the forfeited Test between Pakistan and England at the Oval, leading to his suspension, although he has since returned to become available for selection.

The first Test between England and New Zealand, which starts on May 15th at Lord's, will be umpired by Taufel and Bucknor.

The match referee throughout the series will be Ranjan Madugalle.

Just under a week after the end of the Test series, the five-match one-day international series will begin - umpired by Steve Davis and a local appointment at each venue.

The Twenty20 international that will come between the Test and ODI series will be umpired by local appointees, while the match referee for the shortened games will be Javagal Srinath.