Aussie female umpire breaks new ground

Australian umpire Claire Polosak will be part of a ground-breaking quartet of match officials to feature in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Twenty20 qualifying tournament. 

Polosak will join three other female match officials – New Zealand's Kathleen Cross, England’s Sue Redfern and Jacqueline Williams from the West Indies – at the tournament, which starts in Bangkok this weekend. 

It will be the first time four female match officials will feature in an ICC tournament. 

The 27-year-old Polosak, the youngest official at the event, became the first female to officiate in a men's domestic competition in Australia when she was a third umpire for the recent Matador BBQs One-Day Cup. 

Polosak, a high school science teacher, has worked her way through the umpiring ranks via men's grade cricket in Sydney, the Women’s National Cricket League, and the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars internationals against West Indies last year. 

She was the third umpire in the Queensland versus Cricket Australia XI match in October, and has been the reserve umpire in several domestic matches.

CA’s Match Officials Manager Sean Easey said he was "delighted" by Polosak's appointment. 

“Claire's dedication and love of the game shines through as her officiating continues to go from strength to strength," he said. 

"Her historic debut in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup as third umpire last month and now featuring in an ICC tournament is an inspiration to other aspiring female cricket umpires."

The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 will run from 28 November to 5 December, with eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and Zimbabwe) fighting out for two spots in the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which will be staged alongside the men’s event from 11 March to 3 April.

Polosak will then officiate on-field in the inaugural rebel Women’s Big Bash League, starting 5 December at Junction Oval, Melbourne.