The four women in men's territory
Not too many women have officiated in men's cricket before. When Claire Polosak makes her debut on Sunday, she will join a select few from around the world
Srinath Sripath
04-Oct-2017
As of February this year, Australia had 9168 active umpires, of which just over 3% (278) were women. Claire Polosak, one of the most successful ones, is a 29-year old who is set to make her debut as an on-field umpire in a men's game this Sunday - the first such instance in Australian cricket. Polosak will join a select few who have managed to break gender barriers and officiate in men's games at the highest level.
Kathy Cross (New Zealand)
Sixty-year old Cross is among the longest-serving women umpires in international cricket, having officiated in 69 women's internationals since 2000-01. In 2014, she became the first woman umpire to be inducted into an ICC umpires' panel, when she was added to the ICC Associate and Affiliate panel of umpires, making her eligible to officiate in the lower divisions of the World Cricket League. Long before she achieved this distinction, Cross officiated in men's games at the List A level in New Zealand's State Shield, in games featuring the likes of Jonathan Trott, Jesse Ryder, Chris Harris and Stephen Fleming. Apart from officiating in three Women's World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013, Cross also became one of the first two women umpires to officiate in the World T20 last year.
Sixty-year old Cross is among the longest-serving women umpires in international cricket, having officiated in 69 women's internationals since 2000-01. In 2014, she became the first woman umpire to be inducted into an ICC umpires' panel, when she was added to the ICC Associate and Affiliate panel of umpires, making her eligible to officiate in the lower divisions of the World Cricket League. Long before she achieved this distinction, Cross officiated in men's games at the List A level in New Zealand's State Shield, in games featuring the likes of Jonathan Trott, Jesse Ryder, Chris Harris and Stephen Fleming. Apart from officiating in three Women's World Cups in 2000, 2009 and 2013, Cross also became one of the first two women umpires to officiate in the World T20 last year.
Jacqueline Williams (West Indies)
Williams, having started off in 2015, is a relative newcomer in the international circuit. She's a trailblazer in Caribbean cricketing circles, having already stood in four men's first-class and List A games. Apart from her roles in the Women's World T20 and World Cup qualifiers, the Jamaican officiated as a third umpire in the men's ICC World Cricket League last year.
Williams, having started off in 2015, is a relative newcomer in the international circuit. She's a trailblazer in Caribbean cricketing circles, having already stood in four men's first-class and List A games. Apart from her roles in the Women's World T20 and World Cup qualifiers, the Jamaican officiated as a third umpire in the men's ICC World Cricket League last year.
Sue Redfern (England)
A former left-arm spinner who played six Tests and 15 ODIs for England, Redfern now works with the ECB as its inclusion and diversity manager, apart from officiating as an umpire at the domestic and international levels. The 39-year old made history earlier this year, becoming the first woman to both play and officiate in the Women's World Cup. During the World Cricket League Division Five game between Nigeria and Oman in Jersey last year, Redfern's role as an on-field umpire, along with Williams' presence as the third umpire, made it the first case of two women officiating in a men's ICC tournament match.
A former left-arm spinner who played six Tests and 15 ODIs for England, Redfern now works with the ECB as its inclusion and diversity manager, apart from officiating as an umpire at the domestic and international levels. The 39-year old made history earlier this year, becoming the first woman to both play and officiate in the Women's World Cup. During the World Cricket League Division Five game between Nigeria and Oman in Jersey last year, Redfern's role as an on-field umpire, along with Williams' presence as the third umpire, made it the first case of two women officiating in a men's ICC tournament match.
Claire Polosak (Australia)
Polosak is by far the youngest among the current crop, still only 29 years old, and is set to make her debut as an on-field umpire in a men's game between New South Wales and a Cricket Australia XI at Hurstville Oval this Sunday. Her story is an inspiring one: from being a teenager with a love for the game looking for ways to get involved to her rapid rise into prominence as an international umpire officiating in the Women's World Cup, all over the course of a decade. She has already officiated as a third umpire in the men's Matador Cup and the BBL last season, apart from being an on-field umpire in an U-19 international earlier this year. Polosak has never played competitive cricket but she has already officiated extensively across the men's and women's games at the domestic and international levels.
Polosak is by far the youngest among the current crop, still only 29 years old, and is set to make her debut as an on-field umpire in a men's game between New South Wales and a Cricket Australia XI at Hurstville Oval this Sunday. Her story is an inspiring one: from being a teenager with a love for the game looking for ways to get involved to her rapid rise into prominence as an international umpire officiating in the Women's World Cup, all over the course of a decade. She has already officiated as a third umpire in the men's Matador Cup and the BBL last season, apart from being an on-field umpire in an U-19 international earlier this year. Polosak has never played competitive cricket but she has already officiated extensively across the men's and women's games at the domestic and international levels.
Srinath Sripath is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo