Former Australian paceman Paul Reiffel has been promoted to the International Cricket Council’s 12-man elite panel of umpires.

Reiffel, who became an international umpire five years ago, becomes the fourth Australian on the panel, along with Rod Tucker, Bruce Oxenford and Steve Davis.

Reiffel and Tucker were the first two participants in a Cricket Australia (CA) program which started in 2002-03 to help retired first-class cricketers move into umpiring.

Former England Test spinner Richard Illingworth is the other umpire promoted to the elite panel, meaning England now also has four members.

New Zealander Billy Bowden, well known for his theatrical style of signalling decisions, and Pakistan’s Asad Rauf, were dropped from the panel.

ICC umpires selection panel chairman Geoff Allardice said speculation linking Rauf to the Indian Premier League spot-fixing investigation was not a factor in the decision.

Reiffel, who has officiated in four Tests, 30 one-day internationals and nine Twenty20 internationals, said reaching the highest level had been his aim since he first turned to umpiring.

“It always seemed a long way off so it’s very rewarding and exciting to achieve the goal I set myself,” he said.