New South Wales cricket umpire Roberto Howard has been elevated to Cricket Australia’s (CA) Contracted Umpire Panel for the 2024-25 season.
Howard has been a member of the New South Wales State & Territory Umpire Panel (STUP) since the 2018-19 season having commenced his umpiring career in 2010. Howard was appointed to his first CA match in the 2013-14 Under 15 Female National Championships held in Sydney. Howard then officiated the same tournament the following season. In the 2016-17 season, Howard was appointed to the Under 15 Male National Championships. The following season, Howard travelled to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast where he was appointed to the Under 17 Male National Championships. Upon being appointed to the New South Wales STUP, Howard made his senior CA debut when he stood in the WBBL match between the Sydney Sixers and the Brisbane Heat at Hurstville Oval. The 2018-19 season would prove to be particularly busy on the representative front. Howard again stood in the Under 17 Male National Championships where he was appointed to the Semi-Final. Howard also stood in his first Toyota Second XI match that season.
In 2019-20, Howard was appointed to the CA Under 19 Male National Championships which were held in Perth. As a member of the New South Wales STUP, Howard was appointed to the KFC BBL for the first time as a Fourth Umpire. The COVID-affected season of 2020-21 saw Howard appointed to seven WBBL matches as the competition was played in a bio-secure Hub in Sydney. The following season also saw WBBL matches being played inside a hub, this time Howard travelled to Tasmania to officiate in the tournament. Later in the 2021-22 season, Howard travelled to Mackay to officiate in the Under 19 Male National Championships. During the same season, Howard was appointed to his first four-day Toyota Second XI match when New South Wales played Victoria at Blacktown.
Prior to the 2022-23 season, Howard completed his Cricket Australia Level 3 – High Performance Officiating Accreditation at the invitation-only program held in Brisbane. Howard was then appointed to his second consecutive Under 19 Male National Championships where he went on to stand in the Final. Howard’s CA pathway has seen him stand in 34 WBBL, eight Toyota Second XI and a further five WNCL matches. Howard joins Victorian Umpire Daryl Brigham in being elevated to the CA Contracted Umpire Panel for the first time.