- On April 5th, during the second T20I match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Dunedin, Kim Cotton became the first woman to serve as an on-field umpire in a men’s international match between two full-member teams, making history.
- Cotton has already officiated as field umpire and TV umpire in 54 Women’s T20Is and 24 Women’s ODIs, as well as officiating in the Women’s T20 and ODI World Cups from 2018 to 2023.
- Claire Polosak became the first female umpire to stand in a men’s ODI when she was designated with on-field umpiring duties in the World Cricket League Division Two finale between Oman and Namibia in April 2019.
- Polosak was also the first female match official in a men’s Test match when she was the fourth umpire in the third test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia in Sydney in January 2021.
- The Ranji Trophy earlier this year also had female umpires perform on-field umpiring duties when Vrinda Rathi, N. Janani, and V. Gayathri became the first women to officiate in the tournament’s history.
New Zealand’s Kim Cotton becomes first female umpire to officiate men’s T20 match
