Cricket: Doug Cowie heads for the pavilion

Doug Cowie (right), seen with Russell Tiffin at Eden Park, has stood in 22 tests and 71 ODIs over 10 years. Picture / Fotopress

Doug Cowie, New Zealand's most senior international umpire, has decided to call it stumps after a decade at the top level.

Only days after New Zealand Cricket announced their new policy on fast-tracking the development of umpires, the veteran Auckland official announced his retirement from the ICC international and national umpiring panels.

Cowie had been umpiring at first-class level for 20 years and at international level for the past 10, standing in 22 tests and 71 one-day internationals (including six matches at the 1999 World Cup), and more than 100 first-class games.

The 58-year-old said yesterday that he would remain interested in the development of New Zealand umpiring, but could no longer justify the time it took to prepare thoroughly for the present demands of the job.

"I'm still dedicated to the game and passionate about improving the role of modern umpires in cricket," he said.

"However, the satisfaction gained from the challenges of umpiring no longer outweighs the sacrifices necessary to perform on the field.

"Recent changes to cricket and umpiring have placed greater demands on umpires and I feel the time is right to refocus my priorities."

Cowie made his test debut in 1995 at Napier when he stood in Sri Lanka's demolition of New Zealand, the tourists' first test victory away from home.

His first overseas assignment was at Faisalabad in 1996-97, after which he officiated at some of world cricket's most exotic venues, including, Kingston, Dhaka, Galle, Durban, St Johns and Harare.

New Zealand Cricket umpires manager Brian Aldridge yesterday paid tribute to Cowie, saying the world and domestic cricket scene would be poorer without him.

"Doug has been an excellent umpire during a distinguished career and has made a significant contribution to umpiring in New Zealand and internationally," he said.

"Umpiring at any level takes great commitment and we hope to develop the opportunities available to umpires in New Zealand to ensure that more can reach this level and in the future sustain a living."