Cricket | Jamaican is first female third umpire in men's international

Jamaican female umpire Jacqueline Williams has become the first West Indies woman to officiate as the third umpire in a men’s international.

Williams took up position this morning at the National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada for the first of three Twenty20 Internationals against the visiting Ireland team.

"This is a matter of huge ​honour for me and I am really excited at the prospect of my role as TV umpire in a men’s international match," said Williams, 43.

She has officiated as a third umpire in men’s matches before, but this is the first international engagement.

"I am thankful to the International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies for all the help and support over the years and wish that more women take up umpiring in the coming years. Umpiring is a challenging job but one from which I derive utmost satisfaction” Williams said. 

The Jamaican who will officiate as third umpire in all three matches of the series, continues the trend of women breaking barriers in the game, having already stood as an on-field umpire in men’s ODIs and T20 internationals.

Last month, India’s G S Lakshmi oversaw the third series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first female match referee in men’s ODIs.

Earlier in May, she became the first woman to be appointed to the ICC panel of match referees.

In April last year, Australia’s Claire Polosak became the first female umpire to stand in a men’s ODI, in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 match between Namibia and Oman in Windhoek, Namibia.

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