It was Darrell Hair’s birthday yesterday and his wedding anniversary falls tomorrow. This is hardly, though, a time of good cheer. Sandwiched in between is the small matter of the opening day of one of the most significant legal actions within sport of recent times. The umpire who in his burly way is no less recognisable in the cricketing world than Dickie Bird is suing the International Cricket Council (ICC), his employers, for racial discrimination.

Hair, now 55, who remains on the ICC’s elite panel, has chosen to sue the governing body of the game in the employment tribunal in Central London because it enables him to include his claim for racial discrimination as well as a claim for breaches of his contract with the ICC. At issue is the fact that Billy Doctrove, who stood with him when Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering in the final Test at the Oval last year, and who is a black West Indian, is still officiating in Tests and one-day internationals. Hair has not stood in one since that September day when his symbolic lifting of the bails signalled that the match would be forfeited.

The ICC continues to pay him a retainer – he flew into London last Thursday after attending its umpires seminar in Johannesburg – but he has not earned any match fees for the past year. Ever since last February, when he filed his claim, he has been immersed in paperwork in preparation, with his legal team, for this case.

He and his wife, Amanda, moved back to Australia in March, and live ten miles from Bondi Beach, but he has not been there to surf or to sun-bathe. He has hardly been horse racing, his other great sporting love, because of an equine flu epidemic. His solitary state – his wife works – has been alleviated only by visits to friends and the occasional trip to the Hunter Valley vineyards. Hair has suffered from depression.

“It has been a tough and depressing time but this is not about money, principles or pride,” he said. “I want people to know the truth. I have got through these difficult times by seeing friends and keeping busy. A lot of players, coaches, management and umpires, including Doctrove and David Shepherd, have been supportive. I have had letters, text messages and e-mails that have run into five figures and not one has been opposed to my actions at the Oval.”

Doctrove, a family friend, will be a key witness on his behalf.

Hair will begin giving evidence today in the Central Office of London Tribunals, which is where racial discrimination claims are heard. First, his QC, Robert Griffiths, who sits on MCC’s general committee and cricket committee, will outline Hair’s standpoint. At the core of this is the premise that the umpire’s decision is final and that the ICC should have fully supported the umpires’ stance. The Pakistan side refused to return to the field after the tea interval on the fourth day.

Since then, Hair has officiated in ICC associate matches in Kenya, Toronto and Ireland – which begs the question why he has not been chosen for Test matches and one-day internationals – was on the ECB’s reserve list last year and has umpired in women’s fixtures at Loughborough.

But it is not the big-time. “I have missed international cricket after 15 years’ involvement,” he said. “I have not followed the game on television – I have watched racing instead.”

After three years of living in Lincoln, where he has retained a house, Hair has moved to the Sydney inner-west suburb of Concord. “It was not a question of wanting a better climate – I liked the changing seasons. But I was happy to return to Australia because I was given a lot of support from their umpires.” There was one absurd incident that lifted his spirits: his vacuum cleaner was put into quarantine because it contained English dust. Hair was given no option but to pay out A$596 (about £250) to reclaim it.

Hair is contracted to the ICC until April of next year. Although he has served as a part-time consultant on the Laws of Cricket for MCC, he has given no thought to becoming an umpires’ coach, a role that now exists for retired officials. “I do not think I would ever make much sense as a commentator,” he said.

His wife, who once sat on Nottinghamshire’s committee and is now the chief executive of Local Government Managers, New South Wales, is completely supportive. “Darrell needs a resolution,” she said. “It may be helpful to him that I know about cricket, but it worries me he has been depressed.”

Putting the questions

Robert Griffiths QC will represent Hair. Has represented Kerry Packer, the Sultan of Brunei, Lewes District Council, in its negotiations with Brighton FC over the proposed move to Falmer, and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

Michael Beloff QC will represent the ICC. Is chairman of its Code of Conduct Commission. He has represented the RFU and and was involved in the London Olympic Bid. Both formerly shared the same chambers with Cherie Booth QC.