New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden may reportedly be recalled for the back-to-back Ashes series in England and Australia to take the pressure off the four over-stretched and error-prone Ashes officials during the next seven Tests.
According to the Guardian, Bowden, who was demoted from the International Cricket Council's (ICC) panel of elite umpires in June, may be recalled alongside Kumar Dharmasena, Tony Hill, Marais Erasmus and Aleem Dar, the only four members of the panel not from England or Australia, and therefore eligible for Ashes Tests.
The report further said that England prefers Bowden coming for the Ashes than the alternative suggestion of allowing their own or Australian umpires to stand as they believe that the introduction of neutral umpires has been a major step forward for cricket over the past decade.
According to the report, England and Australia will offer the ICC full support in fast-tracking the development of officials from other countries, even if that involves allowing overseas umpires to stand in domestic first-class fixtures - the County Championship or the Sheffield Shield.
Image: Billy Bowden
Photograph: Duif du Toit /Gallo Images/Getty Images
