Slow Death: Memoirs of a Cricket Umpire

Rudi Koertzen is one of world cricket's most experienced and respected umpires. In a career spanning 29 years, he has stood in 100 Test matches and 200 One Day Internationals. (To date, he is the only umpire to have stood in 200 ODIs.) The slow and deliberate way in which he raises his left arm to give a batsman out has given rise to his nickname, Slow Death, which gives this memoir its title. The title takes the reader back to some of the most important highlights in Test, ODI and T20 matches over the past three decades, including several World Cups and Ashes series. It also covers the controversial side of international cricket, from match fixing to terrorist attacks. And Rudi gives his views on the use of technology in cricket, looking at the pros and cons of the umpire decision review system (UDRS).

Author Biography

Chris Schoeman was born in Somerset East and educated at the University of Port Elizabeth and Colorado State University, USA. He has worked as a historian and journalist and has authored and co-authored several books, including District Six: The Spirit of Kanala, Danie Gerber: Maestro of the Midfield and the popular Losskrums and Loopdoppe series, collections of humorous rugby stories compiled with Frik du Preez. He is also co-author of the bestselling autobiographies of Springbok rugby players Frik du Preez - Frik: The Autobiography of a Legend - and Os du Randt - Os: The Autobiography.