Ranjan Madugalle helped find the other four

"Ranjan is a highly experienced and respected individual who has earned the right to take the lead role at the head of the new referees panel," said ICC chief ececutive Malcolm Speed at the time of his appointment.

Madugalle gained praise for his officiating of a politically tense England Test series in Pakistan last year, culminating in the controversial twilight finish in Karachi.

Clive Lloyd, 57, West Indies

Lloyd led one of the most successful teams in the history of the game as captain of the all-conquering West Indies sides of the 1970s and 80s.

He played in 110 Test between 1966/67 and 1984/85 and is regarded as one of the most powerful and destructive batsmen in the history of the game.

Clive Lloyd is a hugely respected figure

Scoring more than 7,500 Test runs with 19 centuries and an average of 46.67, Lloyd was also the only captain to win the World Cup twice.

An ICC referee between 1992/93 and 1995/96, he managed the West Indies team for three years between 1996 and 1999.

Mike Procter, 55, South Africa

Procter was an outstanding all-rounder for South Africa, denied a full Test career by his country's lengthy exclusion from international cricket.

His 41 wickets at 15 runs apiece in just seven Tests hinted at his talents, which were fulfilled at first class level in South Africa and England with more than 1,400 wickets at 19.53 and 21,936 runs at an average of 36, with 48 centuries.

One of Wisden's five cricketers of the Year in 1970, he was an inspirational captain of English county side Gloucestershire for several seasons.

Procter coached South Africa from the time of its readmission to international cricket in 1991 until 1994 and is a member of the national selection panel.

He has also been a TV commentator in South Africa but has never stood as a match referee before.

Wasim Raja, 49, Pakistan

Wasim was a successful all-rounder for Pakistan, playing in 57 Tests and 54 one-day internationals between 1972/73 and 1984/85.

He compiled four hundreds and 18 half centuries, while his right arm leg spin brought him 51 Test wickets. He was also vice captain of the national team.

Wasim coached the Pakistan national team for a short time in 1999 before resigning to concentrate full time on teaching geography and physical education in England.

He holds a Masters Degree in political science, and like Procter is new to the world of match referees.

Gundappa Viswanath, 53, India

Viswanath was one of India's batting legends, amassing 6,080 runs in 91 Tests between 1969/70 and 1982/83 with 14 centuries.

In all first class cricket he scored almost 18,000 runs at 40.93, with 44 centuries.

Since retiring from the game, he has worked for the State Bank of India and has been a member of the ICC Referees panel since 1999.

However professional commitments had, up to now, restricted him to officiating in two Tests and 16 ODIs.