Rudi Koertzen passes away: Rudi Koertzen dies in car accident- Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen breathed his last on Tuesday. The 73-year-old, labelled the ‘slow finger of death’ by the media, has died in a car accident. Koertzen was regarded as one of the finest umpires during his time and last officiated a game in 2010. Follow InsideSport.IN For Cricket Latest updates
“Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near Stilbaai between Cape Town and Gqeberha,” said the family spokesperson, who requested anonymity.
Rudi Koertzen passes away: Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen dies in car accident, Virender Sehwag pays tribute – Check out
“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 on 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 known as the ‘slow finger of death’ because he very slowly raising his finger whenever indicating a batsman was out.
And enquired about it from me. I gifted him and he was so grateful . A gentleman and a very wonderful person. Will miss you Rudi. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/gdSHGOoYg8
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 9, 2022
Rudi Koertzen passes away: Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen dies in car accident, Virender Sehwag pays tribute – Check out
“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. 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,” Koertzen said in an interview.
“Then 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.”
Rudi Koertzen passes away: Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen dies in car accident, Virender Sehwag pays tribute – Check out
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