In cricket, the umpire is the person who makes the final decision on all questions of fact and law during a match. They are in charge of making sure that the game is played fairly and in accordance with cricket’s laws. There have been some excellent female umpires over the years, and in this article, we will take a look at some of the best ones.
For more amazing articles about female cricket, be sure to check out Cricwall.com. Without any further ado, let’s take a look at the best women umpires in the world.
Claire Polosak
Claire Polosak is an Australian cricket umpire who made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to stand in a men’s One Day International (ODI) match. She has officiated in both men’s and women’s matches at domestic level, as well as being the first female umpire to stand in a men’s Twenty20 International (T20I) match.
Polosak’s passion for cricket began when she was just five years old, and she went on to play the sport at both junior and senior level. After completing a law degree, she decided to pursue umpiring full-time and made her first-class debut in 2010. She has since gone on to umpire matches in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, and Bangladesh.
Jacqueline Williams
Jacqueline Williams is one of the best female cricket umpires in the world. She has officiated in both Test matches and One Day Internationals, and is currently a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires. Williams began her career as an umpire in 2015. She made her Test match debut in 2002, and her first One Day International appearance in 2003. Since then, she has gone on to umpire in a number of high-profile matches including 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup and 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.
Eloise Sheridan
There are a number of great female cricket umpires out there. Eloise Sheridan is one of them. She has been officiating cricket matches for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience. Sheridan has officiated in a number of high-profile matches, including the ICC Women’s World Cup and the Ashes series. She is widely respected for her knowledge of the game and her ability to make decisions under pressure.
Sue Redfern
Sue Redfern is one of the best female cricket umpires in the world. She has officiated in Test matches, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. Redfern has also been a part of ICC panel of umpires since 2015. Redfern made her debut as an umpire in a Test match between England and Pakistan in 2016. She has gone on to officiate in 1 Test match, 13 ODIs and 26 Twenty20 internationals. Redfern is known for her calm and composed demeanour on the field. She has also played for England women’s team from 1995 to 1999.
Lauren Agenbag
Lauren Agenbag may only be 25, but this South African is already one of the best female cricket umpires in the world. Agenbag made history in 2017 when she became the first female umpire to stand in a men’s domestic match in South Africa. She has also officiated at several international women’s matches, including the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. Agenbag is a role model for women in cricket and is an inspiration to aspiring female umpires everywhere. She is proof that age is no barrier to success in this male-dominated sport. We can’t wait to see what she achieves in her umpiring career.
Kathy Cross
Kathy Cross is a former New Zealand cricket umpire. She began her career as an umpire in the early 1990s and has officiated in both men’s and women’s matches. Cross was appointed to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) second-tier International Umpires Panel in 2012. In 2015, Cross became the first woman to be appointed as an umpire in a men’s One Day International (ODI) match, when she officiated in the New Zealand-Zimbabwe match. In 2018, she announced her retirement.
Mary Waldron
Mary Waldron has been an umpire for over 20 years and has officiated in both men’s and women’s cricket. She is currently one of the finest female cricket umpires in the world. Waldron made her debut as an umpire in 2016. She has also played for the Ireland national women’s team. To date, Mary has officiated 6 WT20Is.
Kim Cotton
Kim Cotton is one of the most experienced umpires in the world, having officiated in three Women’s World Cups and more than 30 One Day Internationals. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman to stand in a men’s List A match in England. Kim Cotton is one of the most respected umpires in the world. She has a great knowledge of the game and her calm demeanour is an example to her colleagues.
Conclusion
All of these umpires have had a wealth of experience officiating at the highest level of cricket. They have also been involved in some of the most high-profile matches in recent years. More and more female umpires are getting involved in cricket which is a great thing. Recently, Humaira Farah who is from Pakistan also officiated her first match. We hope that we see more women umpires in the upcoming future.