As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Marais Erasmus as the ICC Umpire of the Year 2021.
Officiating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand, Marais Erasmus has led the way in his officiating, earning the respect of his peers and the international cricket fraternity.
The 2021 ICC Umpire of the Year Award sits alongside his successive Dave Shepherd Trophies, won in 2016 and 2017. On top of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, Erasmus has overseen 20 international fixtures across all the three formats in 2021.
Erasmus, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, recently officiated in his 100th ODI, when he took the field in the first ODI between South Africa and India in Paarl last week.
Commenting on receiving the honour Marais Erasmus, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, said: “Real honour to win the ICC Umpire of the year award. To be honoured by the ICC Match Referees and International test captains is recognition for a year of hard work and I’m pleased to have performed under difficult circumstances with Covid-19 bubbles and long periods away from home. A massive thanks to my wife Adéle and boys Chris and Geo for their unwavering support as well as ICC Umpire coach Karl Hurter for his support of me and many other umpires."