Sue Redfern to Become ICC’s First Female Neutral Umpire in Bilateral Series

Sue Redfern, a former international cricketer, is set to make history as the first female neutral umpire appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a bilateral series. Redfern has been named as the umpire for the upcoming ICC Women’s Championship and T20I fixtures between Australia and South Africa.

The ICC’s decision to appoint one neutral umpire for all ICC Women’s Championship series and T20I matches aims to bring neutrality to running matches while also promoting the development of female umpires. This move presents new opportunities for women umpires in cricket.

Wasim Khan, the ICC’s General Manager of Cricket, sees this appointment as a significant milestone in women’s cricket. He believes that the inclusion of female match officials will provide exposure to different conditions and support the learning and development of local female umpires.

The ICC will prioritize female officials for the neutral umpires’ role in ICC Women’s Championship series. These appointed female umpires will receive match-day pay parity with their male counterparts on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and enjoy comparable perks.

This initiative is part of the ICC’s strategic ambition to enhance the participation and visibility of women both on and off the field. The ICC plans to select more female neutral umpires based on merit and offer them opportunities in the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in the coming years.

Sue Redfern, who has been on the ICC Development Panel of Umpires since 2016, expresses her gratitude for the support she has received from the ICC and the ECB. She believes that her appointment as the first official female neutral umpire will build momentum and visibility for female officials in cricket worldwide.

Redfern, a former England cricketer who played in six Tests and 15 ODIs, including the 1997 World Cup, has officiated in two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups and three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.

Redfern’s appointment as a neutral umpire will be in effect for the following matches:

– Bilateral T20I series: 1st T20I on January 27th at Manuka Oval, Canberra, 2nd T20I on January 28th at Manuka Oval, Canberra, and 3rd T20I on January 30th at Bellerive Oval, Hobart.

– ICC Women’s Championship: 1st ODI on February 3rd at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2nd ODI on February 7th at North Sydney Oval, Sydney, and 3rd ODI on February 10th at North Sydney Oval, Sydney.