Cricket Australia (CA) Contracted Umpire Panel member Sam Nogajski will stand in his 100th KFC BBL match when the Hobart Hurricanes play the Sydney Thunder in the Final of the KFC BBL|14 at Ninja Stadium in Hobart.
Nogajski was first appointed to the Cricket Australia National Umpire Panel prior to the 2012-13 season. He went on to make his KFC BBL umpiring debut in the KFC BBL|02 match between the Melbourne Renegades and the Hobart Hurricanes at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. Within two seasons, Nogajski was appointed to his first KFC BBL finals match, the KFC BBL|04 Semi-Final between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Stars at the WACA Ground in Perth.
The following season, Nogajski was appointed on-field to his first KFC BBL Final when the Melbourne Stars played eventual champions the Sydney Thunder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 12 months later, Nogajski would stand in his first T20 International when Australia played Sri Lanka in the second match of the series at Geelong’s Kardinia Park. Nogajski has gone on to stand in 28 T20 International matches, including appointment by the ICC to last year’s ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. Nogajski has been appointed on-field to a record seventh KFC BBL Final having previously stood in the Final of BBL|05, BBL|08, BBL|10, BBL|11, BBL12, BBL|13. Nogajski was also appointed TV Umpire to the Final of BBL|04 and BBL|06 meaning this Final will represent nine appointments to the KFC BBL Final in the competition’s 14-year history.
Nogajski joins an exclusive club by becoming just the second umpire to stand in 100 KFC BBL matches and just the third match official to reach the century milestone. In what is a fitting occasion, Nogajski brings up this milestone on his home ground having represented Tasmania on the match officiating stage for many seasons.