Former elite panel umpire Rudi Koertzen dies in car accident

South African retired in 2010 after officiating for three decades

Umpire Rudi Koertzen holds a statue of himself after his final match before retirement during the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at Headingley on July 24, 2010, The match marked the end of Koertzen's career that encompassed 108 Tests, a record 209 ODIs and 14 Twenty20 internationals. AFPShow less

South African former umpire and member of ICC's elite panel Rudi Koertzen has died in a car accident, a family member told AFP on Tuesday. He was 73.

"Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near Stilbaai between Cape Town and Gqeberha," the family spokesperson was quoted as saying.

"My father went to a golf tournament with some friends and they were expected to come back on Monday, but it seems they decided to play another round of golf," his son Rudi told a Gqeberha radio station.

The South African team will wear black armbands next Wednesday in honour of Koertzen when they face England at Lord's in London in a Test match.

Koertzen first umpired in 1981, handled his maiden international assignment 11 years later, and retired in 2010 after a Test between Australia and Pakistan in Leeds, England.

He became famous for his signature style of giving a batsman out - raising his finger very slowly and bringing it down the same way.

"Every umpire has their trademark and that was mine. The media labelled it the 'slow finger of death' and I found that pretty interesting. There is a story behind it," Koertzen said in an interview.

"When my umpiring career first began, I used to hold my hands in front of me and every time there was an appeal, I would fold them against my ribs," said Koertzen.

"The someone told me 'Rudi, you cannot do that. Every time you raise your hands to fold them, the bowler thinks you are going to give him a wicket'."

"So I started clasping my wrists at the back. The finger comes out slowly because it takes time for me to release my grasp at the back."