WORCESTER’S Richard Illingworth has been promoted to cricket’s Elite Umpiring Panel, placing him among the top 12 officials in the world.

The former England and Worcestershire left-arm spinner was appointed to the England and Wales Cricket Board list of first-class umpires at the end of his playing days in 2006 and has carved out a good reputation on the county scene.

In November 2009 he was promoted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) list and has now progressed to the highest level of umpiring, the elite panel.

Illingworth said: “I’m delighted to have been promoted.

“To be considered for that position is recognition of what has occured over the past few years and it is nice to have been recognised.

“The next thing is to stay on the panel for a while.

“When I was playing, I always enjoyed bowling under pressure and it is that pressure that gets the adrenaline flowing and that still applies in terms of umpiring.

“It heightens your senses as you know at this level every decision you make will be under scrutiny, so you have to make sure you are on top of your game to come out the other side.”

Illingworth, who played nine Tests for England, was promoted to the elite panel alongside former Australia seamer Paul Reiffel and they have replaced Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden.

“It is exciting to see Richard and Paul promoted to the elite panel, but it is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding contributions of Asad and Billy over a long period of time,” selection panel chairman Geoff Allardice said.

“The selection panel considered the overall performances of the umpires over the past 12 months when deciding which umpires would be offered contracts for 2013-14.”

Rauf, from Pakistan, had umpired in 47 tests and 98 one-day internationals, but was withdrawn from the recent Champions Trophy following media reports that he was under investigation by Mumbai police related to the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League that led to the arrest of three players.

“In Asad’s case, it is important to emphasise that the recent speculation linking his name to the IPL spot-fixing investigation was not considered during the selectors’ deliberations,” Allardice said.

New Zealand’s Bowden had been on the elite panel since 2003, umpiring in 75 tests and 181 one-day internationals, and is known among the cricketing world for his unconventional hand signals.