International umpire Steve Bucknor. - Dellmar

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Respected Jamaican umpire, Steve Bucknor, has been appointed to stand in the first two Tests of the high-profile five-match Ashes series between Australia and England, starting later this month.

Bucknor, one of two regional umpires on the International Cricket Council's Elite Panel, will join Billy Bowden for the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane in a match expected to set the tone for the series.

The 60-year old Bucknor will then join Rudi Koertzen for the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Last year, Bucknor became the first umpire to stand in 100 Tests and has now carried his tally to 113.

Koertzen and Aleem Dar will oversee the next two Tests in Perth and Melbourne respectively, while Bowden and Dar will take charge of the final Test in Sydney.

The Ashes series is expected to grab the attention of the cricket fraternity as Australia seeks to wrestle back the Ashes trophy they surrendered last summer in England.

Then, England won a close, competitive series 2-1 after losing the opening Test.