Umpiring icon Billy Bowden is set to become the first New Zealand umpire to stand in 200 first-class matches.
The 84-Test umpire was today confirmed on NZC’s National Umpire Panel for the upcoming season, and will reach the milestone during Auckland’s Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts at Eden Park on October 28.
He is part of an unchanged nine-strong National Umpire Panel that includes ICC International Panel members Chris Brown, Wayne Knights, and Shaun Haig.
Kim Cotton remains on the National Panel as well as the ICC Development Panel, continuing her impressive rise through the ranks after last season becoming the first female umpire in history to stand in a men's international match between two ICC full-member countries.
Invercargill scorer Sarah Tuapati has earned a promotion to the NZC National Scorer panel after a strong 2022-23 season.
A key feature of the 2023-24 line-up is the disestablishment of the previous NZC Reserve Umpire Panel and the introduction of six Regional Umpire Panels based in each of NZC’s Major Associations.
As part of the change, over 400 NZC umpire appointment opportunities will be made available to regional panel umpires, ranging from NZC community tournaments through to first-class matches.
NZC Head of Cricket Operations Charlie Brewer said the introduction of the new regional panels was designed to help up-and-coming officials progress from community cricket through to the professional game.
“The changes will provide greater opportunities for umpires at all levels of our game, while supporting the development of umpires and strengthening our talent identification programme,” said Brewer.
“They’ll include the establishment of umpire observer panels in each region, to improve the performance feedback and advice that aspiring regional umpires receive.
“It’s something that’s been designed to evolve with our game and ensure our Match Officials are prepared for the demands they face at all levels.”
The first day of the NZC domestic season stars on October 20 with the opening round of the Plunket Shield.
NZC Match Officials Appointments 2023/24
NZC National Umpire Panel
Billy Bowden (Auckland)
Cory Black (Wellington)
Chris Brown* (Auckland)
Kim Cotton** (Canterbury)
John Dempsey (Central Districts)
Shaun Haig* (Otago)
Wayne Knights* (Auckland)
Tim Parlane (Canterbury)
Derek Walker (Otago)
*ICC International Panel
**ICC Development Panel
NZC Emerging Women’s Umpire Panel
Christelle High (Northern Districts)
Tina Semmens (Auckland)
Regional Umpire Panels
Auckland
Yogi Bhogle
Jim Birchall
Vincent Calabro
Satish Ippa
Vinit Mahna
Blair O’Brien
Allan Stanley
Paul Watson
Northern Districts
Brendon Davis
John Keen
Stu Martin
Korie Meadows
Damian Morrow
Greg Pennell
Jass Singh
Texin Thangalathil
Central Districts
John Bromley
Regan Combe
Jason Leahy
Scott Oliver
Glen Walklin
Wellington
Kiran Challa
Tyron Davies
Rengaprabhu Srinivasan
Canterbury
Altamash Askari
Regan Dalley
David Henderson
Matthew Hill
Otago
James Blunt
Kannan Jagannathan
Niel Louw
Peter Pasco
Michael Potter
NZC Aspiring Female Umpire Programme
Marise-Ann Fernandes (Auckland)
Katie Hogue (Otago)
Khymne Methven (Canterbury)
Vibhuti Patel (Canterbury)
Leteisha Rose (Northern Districts)
Ingrid Sage (Wellington)
Gabrielle Sebaratnam (Otago)
Alyson Shipley (Canterbury)
Amruta Shirodkar (Wellington)
Moth Sutherland-Tupp (Auckland)
NZC National Scorer Panel
Michael Anderson (Manurewa)
Annette Campbell (Auckland)
Steph Drake (Waimate)
Karen Fleet (Christchurch)
Matt Frost (Wellington)
Chris High (Tauranga)
Toni Hill (Pokeno)
Chris James (Tauranga)
Malcolm Jones (Mosgiel)
Arun Kumar (Christchurch)
Jared Larsen (Christchurch)
Gail McGowan (Christchurch)
Chris McQuaid (Auckland)
Duncan Mitchell (Palmerston North)
Lindsay Neilson (Dunedin)
David Perry (Dunedin)
Dean Plummer (Gisborne)
Jeffrey Stuart (Wellington)
Sarah Tuapati (Invercargill)
Euan West (Nelson)
Justin Williams (Hamilton)
NZC National Reserve Scorer Panel
Andrew Brookes (Oamaru)
Tony Feely (Christchurch)
Raewyn Inder (Selwyn)
Erica Knights (Auckland)
Kirsty Lees (Christchurch)
James Manhire (Lower Hutt)
Ben McNeil (Auckland)
Shirish Nagar (Hamilton)
Helen Simpson (Dunedin)
Kieron Thwaites (Upper Hutt)
