Legendary South African umpire Rudi Koertzen passed away in a road accident that happened on Tuesday.
Koertzen, 73, was traveling back to his hometown with his friends when their car got into an accident.
His son, Rudi Koertzen Jr told Algoa FM News that his father died on impact.
“He went on a golf tournament with some of his friend, and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf,” Koertzen Jr said.
Koertzen was one of the finest umpires in world cricket. He umpired in 108 Tests, 209 ODIs, and 14 T20Is.
The Knysna-born officiated in 331 matches as an on-field umpire, which is the second most in history after Pakistan’s Aleem Dar (420).
Koertzen made his umpiring debut in a match involving India and South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1992.
The Test match between Australia and Pakistan that took place in 2010 at Lord’s was Koertzen’s last international appearance as an umpire.
As soon as the news broke out, tributes started to pour in for the legendary umpire.
Rudi Koertzen dies aged 73 years. A top umpire, he had followed cricket first as a league player while being a clerk with South Africa Railways. Starting his umpiring career in 1981, he retired in 2010. He umpired in 108 Tests, 209 ODIs & 14 T20 Internationals. RIP pic.twitter.com/l3L4rwSaMN
— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) August 9, 2022
Rudi Koertzen, one of the formative umpires of my era growing up with cricket.
And the owner of one of the best, slow finger raises we’ve ever seen. A master of the art and the theatre that is cricket. pic.twitter.com/jO32Uo1QbA
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) August 9, 2022
Vale Rudi Koertzen ! Om Shanti. Condolences to his family.
Had a great relation with him. Whenever I used to play a rash shot, he used to scold me saying, “Play sensibly, I want to watch your batting”.
One he wanted to buy a particular brand of cricket pads for his son (cont) pic.twitter.com/CSxtjGmKE9
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 9, 2022
