India's Nitin Menon picked for elite umpire panel, to officiate in iconic Ashes 2023

Indian umpire Nitin Menon will finally realise his long standing 'dream' in July this year when he will feature on the umpire panel for the iconic Ashes series scheduled to take place in England.

Menon, the only Indian in the International Cricket Council's elite list of umpires, will be an on-ground umpire during the third and fourth test between Australia and England. And for the fifth and final test, the 39-year-old will be the TV umpire.

The third Test will be played in Leeds from July 6-10, while the fourth Test will be in Manchester (July 19-23). Menon will be the TV umpire in the fifth and final Test at the Oval in London from July 27-31.

Menon, who was inducted into the elite panel back in 2020, could have officiated in the Ashes earlier if it wasn't for Covid-19 with ICC forced to use local umpires due to the prevailing restrictions at the time.

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Considering neutral umpires have been picked for the Ashes, it seems that the ICC is also set to bring back the pre-COVID policy in all Tests.

"My dream series will be Ashes without a doubt. That is the only series I watch on TV. The atmosphere, the way the series is fought, is something I want be involved in. Whether in England or Australia I would love to be part of it," Menon had told PTI after being elevated into the elite panel.

Menon has so far officiated in 18 Tests, 42 ODIs and 40 T20s. He is currently busy with the IPL.

Ashes 2023 is scheduled to start from June 16 and conclude in July and will be played across 5 venues on English soil.

with PTI inputs