Otago Cricket are delighted to have a strong representation of our Umpires & Scorers Association represented on NZC’s 2021-22 Match Officials list.

Announced earlier today, Otago saw five (5) of our Umpires, seven (7) Scorers, and one Match Referee appointed confirmed today as part of NZC’s Match Officials appointments for the coming season. 

Otago Cricket would like to congratulate the following Match Officials:

Umpires:

• Shaun Haig – NZC National Umpire Panel
• Derek Walker - NZC National Umpire Panel
• Kannan Jagannathan – NZC Reserve Umpire Panel
• Peter Pasco - NZC Reserve Umpire Panel
• Katie Hogue - NZC Women’s Umpire Panel

Scorers:

• Stephanie Drake – NZC National Scorer Panel
• Malcolm Jones – NZC National Scorer Panel
• Lindsay Neilson – NZC National Scorer Panel
• Dave Perry – NZC National Scorer Panel
• Andrew Brookes – NZC Development Scorer Panel
• Sarah Tuapati – NZC Development Scorer Panel
• Helen Simpson – NZC Development Scorer Panel

Match Referees:

• James Lovelock - NZC Match Referee Panel

Otago’s James Lovelock joins the nine-strong Match Referees Panel as one-of-two new faces on the list.

Lovelock has remained heavily involved with Otago Cricket since his playing days came to an end and has held multiple roles including Otago Volts Manager and Selection Manager, along with a stint on the Otago Cricket Association Board.   

This summer will also see the establishment of a five-strong Women’s Umpiring Panel as NZC looks to build on the wider momentum of the women’s game by creating pathways to the professional ranks.

Otago’s own Katie Hogue features on the NZC Women’s Umpire Panel, which is undoubtedly a massive achievement for an umpire who has impressed around Dunedin Club and Domestic cricketing environments.

Shaun Haig will again feature prominently in the international home summer with the prospect of standing in BLACKCAPS Test matches for a second straight season again looking likely.

Along with the establishment of the Women’s Umpiring Panel, there will also be six Regional Umpiring Panels based in each of the Major Associations, while a 19-strong National, and 12-strong Development Scoring Panel have also been created.

NZC’s Head of Cricket Operation Charlie Brewer said the implementation of the new panels were designed to help up-and-coming officials to progress from community cricket through to the professional game.

“The changes will provide more opportunities for umpires at all levels of cricket - to support their development and, at the same time, strengthen NZC’s talent identification program,” Brewer said. 

“It has been whole-of-cricket initiative, that has only been made possible through the collaboration of regional match official administrators, Major Associations and NZC.   

“Cricket has changed rapidly over the past few years with the growth of the women’s game and the role of women in cricket generally, along with the implementation of new technology and the increase of domestic cricket fixtures broadcast by Spark Sport. 

“This new structure has been designed to evolve with our game and the new demands on our Match Officials.”

*ENDS*

Article added: Thursday 30 September 2021