Sue Redfern to become first female umpire in County Championship

Redfern, who earlier this summer became the first woman to stand in a T20 Blast fixture, has long been blazing a trail for female umpires in English cricket

Sue Redfern will become the first female umpire to stand in a men's first-class match in England and Wales when she officiates the County Championship match between Glamorgan and Derbyshire next week.

Redfern, who earlier this summer became the first woman to stand in a T20 Blast fixture, has long been blazing a trail for female umpires in English cricket.

The former England player, who represented her country 21 times at the end of the 20th century, returns to Cardiff, where she became the first female official involved in an England Men's game as fourth umpire against Sri Lanka.

"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," said Redfern.

^{Redfern was fourth umpire for a men's T20I between England and Sri Lanka in 2021 (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

"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.

"When I started umpiring I had to balance other work commitments with my umpiring, but it is now a career I can solely focus on. I am proud of the steps I have taken and that I am proving that opportunities now exist in umpiring for anyone if they're willing to work hard and dedicate themselves."

At the start of the 2022 season, Redfern was added to a 34-strong list of professional umpires in the English game. She has officiated at six global tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games, three Women's T20 World Cups and two Women's World Cups.

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