Hair returning to Test cricket in England v NZ series

Taufel and Bucknor will umpire in the first Test at Lord’s which starts May 15.

Hair was removed from the ICC’s elite umpiring panel after the contentious forfeited Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval in August 2006.

Hair accused Pakistan of ball tampering and, when the team refused to take the field after a break, he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove awarded the forfeit. Hair, who is white, was angered by the fact that he was banned while black umpire Doctrove largely escaped censure.

It was the first forfeit in Test cricket’s 129-year history. Hair was reinstated to the elite panel last month.

Hair’s return comes after he completed a so-called “rehabilitation programme” in September when he agreed to drop a claim of racial discrimination against the ICC.

The 55-year-old Australian has umpired 76 Tests – but none since The Oval match – and 135 one-day matches, the last one between Ireland and Scotland in July 2007.