Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel member Roberto Howard made his List A umpiring debut in the Men’s One Day Cup match between New South Wales and South Australia at Cricket Central Oval.
Howard’s appointment marks a significant milestone in a distinguished officiating career which commenced over a decade ago in the New South Wales Men’s Premier Cricket Competition in which he has now umpired 219 matches, 101 of which have been in first grade. His talent and dedication led to his elevation to the New South Wales State Umpire Panel prior to the 2018–19 season, which also saw his first appointment to a Cricket Australia tournament. Since then, Howard has officiated in all major CA underage National Championships and made his debut in both the WBBL and Toyota Second XI competitions during the 2018–19 season.
Through his career, Howard has stood in 40 WBBL matches, ranking him fourth among all umpires, and he has served as TV Umpire in five matches, including the Eliminator Final in season 2024-25 between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval. He was twice appointed to the CA Under 19 Male National Championships, including the 2022–23 Final between New South Wales Metro and Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide. Prior to that season, Howard completed his Cricket Australia Level 3 High Performance Officiating Accreditation through an invitation-only program held in Brisbane. Leading into the 2024–25 season, Howard was elevated to Cricket Australia’s Contracted Umpire Panel for the first time, and last season he made his on-field BBL debut in the match between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Luke O’Brien, Cricket Australia’s Match Officials Manager, praised Howard’s dedication and progression, “Roberto’s journey is a testament to perseverance, professionalism, and a deep love of our game. His consistent performances across domestic competitions have earned him the respect of players and peers alike. We are thrilled to see him take this next step in his umpiring career.” O’Brien added, “List A cricket presents new challenges and opportunities, we’re confident Roberto will bring the same level of excellence and integrity that has defined his career so far.”
Cricket Australia congratulates Roberto Howard on this achievement and looks forward to his continued contribution to cricket.