Cricket Australia (CA) Contracted Umpire Panel member Donovan Koch has stood in his 50th KFC BBL fixture in the match between the Perth Scorchers and the Brisbane Heat at Perth Stadium.
Following a successful playing career that saw him play 21 First-Class and 20 List-A matches, Koch first took up umpiring in the UK before moving to Australia in September 2012. Koch rose through the grades in Queensland and followed the umpire high performance pathway before Cricket Australia appointed him to the former CA Development Umpire Panel prior to the 2016/17 season.
The 2017/18 season saw Koch achieve several significant on-field debuts and milestones. He made his List-A debut in the One-Day Cup competition fixture between Queensland and the Cricket Australia XI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. In November 2017, Koch made his First-Class Umpiring debut in the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania at the MCG. Later in the season, Koch made his KFC BBL debut in the match between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers at the WACA Ground in Perth.
In addition to his 50 BBL matches to date, Koch has officiated on 26 occasions as TV Umpire including the BBL|11 Final between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. At the international level, Koch made his T20 International debut in February 2022 when Australia played Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Koch was appointed to the ICC International Panel of Umpires that season. Koch has gone on to stand in eight T20 internationals with a further three appointments as TV Umpire.
Koch became just the twelfth Australian umpire to stand in 50 BBL matches, and if each of this season’s appointments are fulfilled, he will move into the top ten on the list of BBL Matches by an umpire.