Cricket Australia is proud to announce that Mitch Claydon and Riki Wessels will make their List A umpiring debuts in the opening round of the Men’s One Day Cup competition, marking a significant milestone in their post-playing careers.
Mitch Claydon will officiate his first List A match on Tuesday, September 16, when New South Wales takes on Tasmania at Cricket Central. The following day, Riki Wessels will step into the umpiring spotlight for the first time at this level in the clash between Queensland and Victoria at Allan Border Field.
Claydon brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played 113 First-Class matches for Yorkshire, Durham, Kent, and Sussex, along with 110 List A appearances. His playing career also included many seasons in Sydney’s Grade competition with Campbelltown-Camden Cricket Club. After hanging up his boots, Claydon transitioned into coaching, joining the Sydney Sixers’ BBL coaching staff. He began umpiring in the 2019–20 season in the Sydney Premier Competition and quickly progressed to national appointments, including the CA Under 15 Male National Championships. His steady rise continued through the Under 17 and Under 19 Male National Championships, where he was regularly appointed to finals. In recent seasons, Claydon has officiated in the Weber WBBL, WNCL, and Toyota Second XI, and served as Fourth Umpire in the KFC BBL. Earlier this year, he was named to the Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel for the first time.
Wessels, a seasoned cricketer with 224 First-Class matches for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Worcestershire, and 179 List A games, also played nine matches for the Sydney Sixers during the KFC BBL05 season. After retiring in 2022, he returned to Brisbane and began umpiring in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition. His rapid ascent saw him appointed to the Queensland State & Territory Umpire Panel ahead of the 2023–24 season, where he made his First-Grade debut. That season included appointments to the CA Under 17 Male National Championships, the WNCL, and the Weber WBBL, culminating in recognition as Queensland’s top First-Grade umpire with both the Mel Johnson Trophy and the Bruce Oxenford Award. In 2024–25, Wessels debuted in the Toyota Second XI and officiated the CA Under 19 Male National Championships Final. He also served as a TV Umpire in the Weber WBBL and stood on-field in the Queensland Premier Cricket First-Grade Final. His outstanding contributions were recently acknowledged with Queensland Cricket’s Match Official of the Year award, and he too was appointed to the Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel earlier this year.
Cricket Australia Match Officials Manager Luke O’Brien praised both appointments, saying, “Mitch and Riki have shown tremendous dedication and professionalism in their transition from playing to officiating. Their journeys reflect the strength of our umpire development pathways and the value of experience at all levels of the game.” O’Brien added, “We’re thrilled to see two former elite players bring their deep understanding of cricket into the officiating arena. Their debuts in the One Day Cup are well-earned, and we’re confident they’ll make a strong impact on the field and serve as role models for aspiring umpires across the country.”
Cricket Australia congratulates Mitch, Riki, Cricket NSW and Queensland Cricket on this achievement and looks forward to watching their careers for many years to come.