Rod Tucker - "Budgie'

Gordon District Cricket Club | October 13, 2025

The start of play on October 12 in the First Test Match between Pakistan and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore saw Rod Tucker standing in his 96th Test, going past Daryl Harper for the most test matches officiated by an Australian umpire.

A left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pacer, Rod was a fine cricketer before he began his umpiring career. He debuted (Cap #499) for Gordon on 22/9/2001 at Killara Oval vs UNSW. Subsequent NZ Test and ODI Player, Scott Styris, (Cap #498) debuted for Gordon in the same game. Michael Slater was the Captain of the UNSW team. During the game, Styris launched a shot from the southern end of the ground very close to Slater’s brand-new Ferrari, which was parked on the northern side of Koola Ave.

He represented Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield during the 1990s, scoring 5,076 first-class runs at an average of 36.25 and took 123 first-class wickets at an average of 41.40.

PHOTO - Nathan Lyon bowling and Rod Tucker umpiring at Perth Stadium. First test Australia V West Indies - 2nd December 2022.

Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 

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