Cook Islander Makes NZ Cricket Umpires Panel

International cricketer Chris Brown has made history by becoming the first Cook Islands cricketer to be selected to New Zealand Crickets Umpires 'A' Panel.

Last month's announcement by New Zealand Crickets national umpire manager Rodger McHarg ranks Brown in the top twenty umpires in New Zealand, and signals a real intention by New Zealand Cricket to see Brown join the likes of Billy Bowden on the international umpiring circuit.

Browns impressive rise as one of New Zealand's top umpires has come about quickly and the recent announcement took Brown by surprise;

"I have always had a passion for umpiring and I guess my recent decision to retire from international cricket for the Cooks was made easier by the fact that I knew I would remain involved as an umpire, however I didn't expect to make the umpires A panel so soon," says Brown.

Brown continued on to say that his time with Cook Islands Cricket had been special and he has taken a lot from those experiences;

"I played first class cricket for Auckland and a number of games for New Zealand A, however I would rate my decade involved leading the Cooks national team as a very special time for me and very formative in shaping me into the umpire I am now."

Brown encourages other Cook Islands cricketers to pursue their passion for umpiring and is especially interested in the recent emergence of Kore Patia who is the country's top ranked umpire and is in contention to be part of the International Cricket Council's regional emerging umpires panel. Patia together with Oliver Syme, Ray Raumanu, Shane Thompson and Sabu Matapo form the Cook Islands cricket elite umpires panel.