Umpire Steve Bucknor of West Indies, is seen during the first test match between South Africa and Australia at Wanderers stadium Johannesburg, South Africa. - AP

DUBAI According to an ICC media release, test cricket on Sunday said farewell and thanks to Steve Bucknor, the most experienced umpire to date in the longest form of the game. The 62-year-old Jamaican umpired his final Test match at Newlands in Cape Town between South Africa and Australia, his 128th match in the middle.

Bucknor has been umpiring at international level since 1989 when he took charge of the One-Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and India at the Antigua Recreation Ground on 18 March.  His first Test, between the same opponents, in his native Jamaica, started just over a month later, on 28 April.

Since that time Bucknor has umpired five consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup finals since 1992 and is to date the Test umpire with most appearances, with fellow Emirates Elite Panelist South Africa`s Rudi Koertzen 29 matches behind his record tally.

Only Koertzen stands above Bucknor in terms of ODI appearances with 195 matches compared to the Montego Bay-born official`s 179, a tally that should rise to 181 when he signs off on his international umpiring career with two matches as the local appointee when the West Indies faces England in Barbados on 27 and 29 March.

Before play on the Friday, the second day of the Newlands Test, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat presented Bucknor with a painting featuring images of his umpiring career while the players and officials formed a guard of honour for him when play resumed after tea on Sunday, the fourth and what turned out to be the final day of the match.

And when the final wicket was taken Bucknor lingered briefly in the middle of the ground to pray and then embarked on a final lap of the ground.  Meanwhile, administrators, colleagues and former players all paid tribute to the umpiring great.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said `Steve`s is a career that has embraced so much and deserves to be celebrated. His record of five consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup finals will not, I contend, be overtaken and he will retire as the umpire to have officiated in the most Test matches and the first to break the 100 Test mark.

`His endurance is testament to discipline and consistency - two characteristics to which all in cricket should aspire.  On behalf of the ICC thank you for your great service to the game and we wish you well in the future.`

Colleagues and former players praised the ICC`s most experienced Test match umpire to date after his final Test, in Cape Town.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat `Steve`s career has been all about discipline and consistency.`

ICC General Manager - Cricket David Richardson `Steve has been an outstanding servant of the game.`

Former West Indies captain and Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd `With his hard-working attitude Steve has been a credit to cricket.`

Ex-Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq `I always respected Steve`s decision-making, man-management skills and, above all, his humble and friendly attitude.`

Former England captain Alec Stewart `I hold Steve up there along with David Shepherd as one of the umpiring greats of my era.`