The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced the establishment of the ICC Emerging Female Umpires Group.
ICC International Panel and Cricket Australia (CA) Contracted Umpire Panel members Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan have been appointed by the ICC to the inaugural group. Both umpires have been part of the international game for several years, officiating in 50-Over and T20 World Cups at home and abroad.
Polosak was appointed to the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup for the fifth time and went on to stand on-field in the 2024 Final between winners New Zealand and runners up South Africa in Dubai. Polosak had previously been appointed to the 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023 tournaments. In the 50-Over format, Polosak officiated in the last two ICC Women’s World Cups in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Polosak will be heavily involved in the forthcoming 2025 CommBank Women’s Ashes Series between Australia and England commencing in mid-January.
For fellow Aussie Sheridan, appointment to the ICC Emerging Female Umpires Group comes on the back of two appearances at the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in 2024 and 2023. Sheridan also officiated in the last ICC 50-Over Women’s World Cup which was held in New Zealand in 2022 where she was appointed to the Semi-Final of that tournament. Sheridan will also feature in the forthcoming CommBank Women’s Ashes series.
Currently placed on the CA Contracted Umpire Panel, both Polosak and Sheridan have stood on-field and carried out TV Umpire duties in each of the major Australian Domestic male competitions including the Sheffield Shield, One Day Cup and KFC Big Bash League.
The ICC have also appointed Australians Ashlee Gibbons and Lisa McCabe to the ICC International Panel of Umpires. Both have been on the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires in previous seasons, having first been appointed in 2022. Gibbons has been appointed to officiate in the 2025 Under 19 Female T20 World Cup being held in Malaysia and was appointed as Fourth Umpire in the recent One Day International series between Australia and India. McCabe is appointed to three CommBank Women’s Ashes Series matches as Fourth Umpire including the historic Day/Night Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. McCabe also made her Men’s T20 International umpiring debut in a recent ICC T20 World Cup qualifying event held in Samoa.