Sue Redfern to become first female umpire in men's County Championship

Redfern was an umpire in the Women's Ashes Test between England and Australia this summer

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Sur Redfern was named in the Professional Umpires' Team last year,. - Twitter/ Suzanne Redfern

By AFP

Published: Fri 22 Sep 2023, 4:23 PM

Former England international Sue Redfern is set to become the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men's first-class match in England and Wales.

Redfern, who won 21 England caps in the 1990s, has been appointed for the four-day County Championship fixture between Glamorgan and Derbyshire, which starts on Tuesday.

She became the first woman to officiate at a home England men's match two years ago when she was the fourth official for a T20 international against Sri Lanka.

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Umpire Sue Redfern signals out to England's Sophie Ecclestone, who was trapped lbw by Australia's Ashleigh Gardner in an Ashes match - Reuters File

Redfern has also umpired in a number of global tournaments including the 2022 Commonwealth Games and women's white-ball world cups.

"I have worked hard to earn this opportunity and I look forward to taking the next step in my career by umpiring a men's first-class match," she said on Friday.

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"That has been an ambition of mine for a long time and, while it is a new challenge that will test me, I know that I am ready for it.

"Umpiring has become such a fulfilling part of my life and while my focus is on being the best umpire I can be, I hope my journey can also be an inspiration to others."

AFP

Published: Fri 22 Sep 2023, 4:23 PM

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