Dunedin umpire Steve Dunne's world record 100th one-day international may have been his last.
Dunne, 57, became the first umpire to control 100 limited-over internationals when he controlled the series decider between New Zealand and England at Carisbrook on Tuesday night.
But the panel of eight international umpires to be announced next
month may confine him to domestic matches.
"I won't be on it; I've known that for some months," he said yesterday.
Dunne said he understood an emerging panel of up-and-coming umpires would control one-dayers throughout the world.
The home country appointee would come from that panel.
Dunne will umpire the second test between New Zealand and England in Wellington from March 21 to March 25 with Russell Tiffen (Zimbabwe). That is likely to be his 39th and last test, with the elite panel set to take over from April 1.
But Dunne said he had no intention of retiring from the first-class circuit: "I'd like another couple of years."
He did not realise until the day before the game that he was about to become the first umpire to control 100 limited-over internationals.
"It feels as though I've spent a lifetime in the middle," he said. "I guess it is special to have your 100th on your home ground in your home town."
Dunne said three of the 100 matches particularly stood out - a tied match between New Zealand and Pakistan in Auckland in 1993-94, a World Cup quarter-final between England and South Africa at the Oval in 1996, and a thriller between Pakistan and South Africa in 1997.
His next assignment is the match between England and Otago starting in Queenstown tomorrow.
- NZPA
