Cyril Mitchley


Cyril John Mitchley is a South African former cricket player, umpire and match referee. As an umpire he officiated in first-class and Test cricket matches.

Playing career

During the late 1960s he played for Transvaal as a wicket-keeper in South African domestic cricket.

Umpiring and refereeing career

He later became an umpire, culminating with him becoming a Test cricket umpire. Between 1992 and 2000, he stood in 26 Test matches and 61 One Day Internationals.
In a match between South Africa and India in 1992, Mitchley made history by making the first referral to a third umpire in Test cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar was out after Mitchley referred a run out decision.
He famously gave two of the three LBWs when English bowler Dominic Cork took a hat-trick against the West Indies at Old Trafford in 1995.
He later became an ICC match referee, officiating on four ODIs, all in 2007.