Four female officials appointed for next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Colombo
• Adrian Griffith: “The ICC is committed to the growth of women’s cricket and more female officials in the game is a natural progression”
• Kathleen Cross: “The importance of this event is that I continue to maintain, learn and deliver skills so that I present the best possible performance on each match day”
• Claire Polosak: “To have the opportunity of working with umpires from around the world is fantastic, and one that not many get to experience”
• Sue Redfern: “I hope my selection to the tournament shows other women in England and across the world that there are more opportunities in cricket than just playing”
• Jacqueline Williams: “All the appointments I have been on are stepping stones and I have welcomed all with open arms”
• Important information for media planning to cover the event under “Notes to Editors”
The International Cricket Council has named four women in a strong field of nine umpires to officiate in next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 in its continued efforts and commitment to the overall growth and development of women’s cricket.
The 7-21 February event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will see the experienced Kathleen Cross of New Zealand lead the group of women umpires who all have international experience and are being groomed for more future responsibilities by the ICC.
Cross, who was the first woman to be named in an ICC umpires’ panel in 2014 when she was named in the Associates and Affiliates panel, is the most experienced of the four officials with Sue Redfern of England, Claire Polosak of Australia and Jacqueline Williams of the West Indies the other women figuring in the list of umpires.
The five men umpires in the 14-day tournament include Anil Chaudhary, Leslie Reifer, Raveendra Wimalasari (all from the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires), Ian Ramage and Mark Hawthorne (both from the ICC Associate and Affiliate International Umpires). Graeme Labrooy will be the match referee, while Peter Manuel will be the umpires coach.
With the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 to be staged in England and Wales from 24 June to 23 July, the Colombo event will provide an opportunity for the women umpires to push their casefor inclusion in the pinnacle women’s event.
Adrian Griffith, ICC’s Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees: “The ICC is committed to the growth of women’s cricket and more female officials in the game is a natural progression. We have four extremely capable female umpires for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017 and are hopeful that more women will be able to officiate in international matches in the coming years. I’m sure watching these four officiate in this tournament will inspire more women to take up umpiring.”
Kathleen Cross: “The importance of this event is that I continue to maintain, learn and deliver skills so that I present the best possible performance on each match day. Being able to live up to these expectations are a continuing challenge in itself. Therefore, preparation and continuing improvement is so important.
“Opportunities through ICC events always brings a great deal of excitement and allows me to continue to be a good role model, more importantly, because now there are other women being appointed to events. It is always my aim to maintain high standards of professionalism, attitude, and leadership, in all aspects of the game.
“This tournament will surely be another showcase of how women’s cricket has grown and become a very contestable arena. The physical, emotional and mental toughness will produce the highest of standards. The four places that are being contested will definitely bring out the best in all the competing countries. I look forward to being a part of this event and working with my colleagues from different corners of the globe.”
Claire Polosak: “To have the opportunity of working with umpires from around the world is fantastic, and one that not many get to experience. I am looking to learn from each and every one of them, and going home to Australia a better umpire. In fact, my goal for the tournament is to learn, return to Australia and share my new found knowledge.
“I think that with the increased exposure of women’s cricket around the world, there is naturally an increase in the exposure for female umpires.The ICC is forward thinking in its appointments of female umpires to such important tournaments.
Sue Redfern: “I’m really excited and feel very privileged to have this opportunity, which will help me to continue to develop as an umpire and build on previous ICC appointments.
“I hope my selection to the tournament shows other women in England and across the world that there are more opportunities in cricket than just playing and they should have the courage to follow their dreams. I’m hugely grateful to both ICC and ECB for their continued support in helping me realise mine.
“Travelling to Sri Lanka will be a fabulous experience both on and off the field – it’s a fantastic chance to stand with colleagues, both male and female from around the globe, to learn different techniques and to gather knowledge.”
Jacqueline Williams: “I’m delighted to be named among the umpires for this tournament. It’s a major tournament in women’s cricket with some of the best players in the world. All the appointments I have been on are stepping stones and I have welcomed all with open arms. I always find something to work on and improve. There is a lot to learn as an umpire.
“Going to Sri Lanka, I have been doing my homework, looking at the conditions, the weather and other aspects of the game so I know what to expect before I reach there. It’s somewhere different but I’m happy to be involved and hoping to give my very best.”
Women umpires’ careers at a glance:
Kathleen Cross
Umpired 39 Women’s ODI matches 2000-2016
Umpired in ICC Women’s World Cup 2000, 2009, 2013
Umpired 16 Women’s IT20 matches, 2013-2016
Umpired in ICC Women’s World T20 2016
ICC World Cricket League Division 5 in 2013-14
ICC World Cricket League Division 4 in 2016-17
Claire Polosak
Umpired 2 Women’s ODI matches in 2016
Umpired 4 Women’s IT20 matches in 2015-2016
Umpired three matches in ICC Women’s World T20 2016
Sue Redfern
Played 6 Tests and 15 ODIs for England Women 1995-1999
Umpired three matches in ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015-16
ICC World Cricket League Division 5 2016
Jacqueline Williams
Umpired 2 Women’s ODI matches 2015-2016
Umpired 1 Women’s IT20 match 2015
Umpired two first-class matches 2015-2016
ICC World Cricket League Division 5 2016
ICC World Cricket League Division 4 2016-17
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Written content
The ICC will be releasing the following articles in the lead up to the tournament. This content will be available on the ICC website and can be used for editorial purposes:
30 Jan – About the tournament – details, significance, format, etc.
31 Jan – Group A preview
1 Feb – Group B preview
2 Feb – First person articles by team captains
3 Feb – Players to watch out for
4 Feb – Feature article
5 Feb – Round-up of warm-up matches
6 Feb – Tournament preview including captains’ quotes from pre-tournament press conference
7-21 Feb – Daily round-ups
Photographs
The ICC will also be providing photographs and videos from the matches for free editorial use.
Photographs can be downloaded from ICC FTP site: ftp://ftp.kricit.com/ICCWWC17. Please copy paste above link into Address Bar of Windows Explorer and press enter. It is not Internet Explorer.
Username: WWC17-rd
Password: 1cC_pR3$$
About the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017
Asia Cup champions and former World Cup finalists India leads Group A which also includes Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand
South Africa heads Group B which comprises Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Each side will play four matches in the first round, following which the top three sides from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, while also carrying forward points they earn against sides which have progressed to the Super Six stage from their group.
The top four sides from the Super Six stage, in which each side will play three matches against teams from the other group, will complete the eight-team line-up for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, while the top two sides will battle out for the title in the 21 February final.
P. Sara Stadium, Mercantile Cricket Association, Nondescripts Cricket Club and Colombo Cricket Club will be used for the tournament
About the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017
The Women’s World Cup 2017 will get underway on 24 June and culminate with the final at Lord’s on 23 July. Bristol and Derby will host the two semi-finals, while Leicester and Taunton are the other two venues
Australia, England, New Zealand and the West Indies have qualified automatically after finishing in the top four of the ICC Women’s Championship
The tournament will be played on a single-league format with all the eight sides playing against each other once. The top four sides will progress to the semi-finals
A total of 31 matches will be played, including the two semi-finals and the final