Rudi Koertzen, a South African umpire known for his long, slow finger of fate when ruling a player out, died in a car accident at the age of 73 on Tuesday, 9 August 2022.
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According to South African media, the former umpire was one of four people killed in a head-on collision while returning from a golf weekend with friends in Cape Town to his home in Despatch, Eastern Cape.
Details on how the accident happened are not available. Former Pakistan bowler and coach Waqar Younis wrote: ‘RIP to one of the best Umpire in the World Rudi Koertzen.
‘I always enjoyed bowling from his end. Condolences to the family and friends #RipRudi’
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South Africa’s players wore black armbands during their warm-up match against the England Lions on Tuesday, August 9 2022 and they will do so again for the first Test against England next week at Lord’s.
Koertzen was a hugely popular umpire on the international circuit. He officiated in 331 international matches during his 18-year career, a record that has since been broken by Aleem Dar of Pakistan.
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