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RUDI Koertzen has travelled a long way since his days as a clerk on the South African Railways. As a child, the 49-year-old had one burning desire - to succeed as a cricketer. Although he played first league cricket for De Beers in Kimberley 20 years ago, he realised he would never make the grade so he decided to try his hand at umpiring.

Last week, Koertzen reached the pinnacle of his career when he and Natal's Dave Orchard were appointed by the International Cricket Council to represent South Africa on the 12-man World Cup umpires' panel.

Koertzen was educated at Despatch High and Port Elizabeth Technical College before joining the South African Railways and then being sent to Kimberley on promotion. But his love for the Eastern Cape took him back to Despatch, the tiny town put on the map by Springbok rugby star Danie Gerber.

His wife Hyla and their four children are his keenest fans and, although he spends much of his time travelling around the world, they give him 100 percent support.

Before leaving for Colombo, where Sri Lanka play India in a Test starting on Wednesday, Koertzen said: ``It really is an honour to represent your country at the World Cup and I can think of nothing else which would have given me a bigger thrill than when I heard the good news.''

As an umpire, Koertzen is not easily flustered but admits that no umpire is immune to mistakes. ``However, I have a good rapport with the players and am able to control the occasional outbursts. Tests in particular are very demanding but players representing their countries are more disciplined and easier to control than those playing provincial matches,'' he said.

``It's vital for umpires to keep concentrating throughout the six to seven hours out in the sun and for this one needs to be fit. In my case I do a lot of gym work.

``The introduction of a third umpire using television has also been a blessing and has settled quite a few decisions which in the old days could have led to controversy.''

Asked to name the finest batsman he had watched while umpiring, he had no hesitation in naming India's Sachin Tendulkar.

``He is only 25 but has already scored more than 11 000 runs in his 61 Tests and 188 one-day internationals. He is small in stature but big in heart and the finest player of spin bowling I've seen.''

As to the fastest bowler, he had equally little hesitation in naming Allan Donald. ``He certainly lives up to his sobriquet of 'white lightning' and at full pace their is no one in the world to touch him.''

After the match in Colombo, Koertzen leaves for Lahore in India where Sri Lanka play Pakistan in a Test from March 4-8. He will then return home for a short rest before the World Cup in the UK.