Women Cricket Umpires
With rapid growth and popularity of women’s cricket especially in India, there seems to be a growth for cricket related career for women. Be it couching, training staff, mentors or umpires or commentators. Do you know that, the U-19 Women’s World Cup, were dominated by all women officials. For the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup too, only women officials have been named. This is a significant change that we are seeing in cricket. And it’s a welcome change in what we call, ‘a gentleman’s game’.
Recent history
Australia’s Claire Polosak is the first women umpire to stand inMen’s ODIon 27 April 2019 and she was one of the four female umpires named, to stand in Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. South Africa’s Lauren Agenbag become the youngest umpire at the age of 22 years, to stand in an international cricket fixture. Women’s Asia Cup also had an all women match officials’ panel. In the Legends League Cricket tournament in Oman there were four women umpires in the all-women panel of match officials.Australia’s Eloise Sheridan and New Zealand’s Kim Cotton was the first female umpires to stand in men’s domestic match. In the year 2021, Claire Polosak became the first women to officiate in a Test match as a fourth umpire.
India’s GS Lakshmi is the first ever women referee to be appointed on the ICC International Panel. In this season’s Ranji Trophy,women umpires will be officiating in the men’s cricket matches. The Women Premier League (WPL) that is going to begin in March 2023, also has opened many opportunities for women umpires and other cricket related jobs.
Who can qualify?
If a women umpire has to officiate in the Men’s World Cup, then she has to be in the top 16 umpires of the world.The ICC has 12 full members, who nominate 4 umpires each to the International Panel. These umpires are evaluated on the basis of their international performances so that they get selected to the Elite Panel. The Development Panel is made up of men and women of full member nations and from associate members who are among the top 20 in the cricket rankings.
Lauren Agenbag at 22 years, became the first women umpire who was selected by ICC Development Panel to stand in the Women’s T20 international in the year 2019.
Claire Polosak became the first women umpire to stand in a men’s ODI match between Oman and Namibia. According to ICC, its objectives for the years 2022 – 25 is to have 48 women umpires at the international level and 24 in refereeing. A big opportunity for women umpires.
Become a Professional Umpire
Anyone can become an umpire. It is not necessary to have played cricket for becoming an umpire.You can become a part-time or a full-time umpire. People who have a passion for the game and many players who have retired from the game, take up this job to find satisfaction at being involved with the game in some form. An applicant would require to fulfil the following criteria –
- Age of candidate shall be18 – 60 years.
- Join local cricket Association
- Register with the State Cricket Association
- Enrol for umpiring courses
- Attend training sessions
- Officiate in local cricket matches
Would need the following knowledge and skills –
- Have a good eye sight and hearing ability
- People management skills
- Communication skills
- Knowledge of the 42 Laws of cricket
- Decision making ability
- Good physical Fitness
- Qualify in the umpire certification exam by any State Cricket Association or ICC
- Participate in cricket matches of the state.
So you see, to be associated with your favourite game, you can be a player, a bowling coach, fielding coach, Commentor, Sports Journalist, Sports Manager, Social Media Manager, Sports and Event Manager, Sports Editor(Stats), Telemarketer, Psychologist, Online Sales Marketing, Business Development Executive, Product Analyst, Fund Analyst and the list doesn’t end here. You have an ocean of opportunities. But knowing which one to select, is of utmost importance.
Having played cricket before becoming an umpire would be an added advantage. So why not pick up a bat and ball from www.thetidkes.com to get a real time experience of the game.
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