Cricket Australia proudly congratulates umpire Gerard Abood, who will break Peter Parker’s long-standing umpiring record in the upcoming Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), starting Friday.
Abood stood in his 84th Sheffield Shield match, surpassing Parker’s record for the most Shield matches officiated in history officiating with New South Wales umpiring colleague Ben Treloar and match referee Bob Parry (Victoria).
Abood’s journey in the Sheffield Shield began at the SCG in November 2008, when he officiated his very first match between New South Wales and Queensland—the same two sides as this round. That match featured future Australian stars Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, with on-field colleague and highly respected umpire Simon Taufel.
The following season, Abood was appointed to Cricket Australia’s National Umpire Panel, having progressed through the umpiring pathway in both New South Wales and Victoria. His career continued to flourish, and in March 2019 he stood in his 50th Sheffield Shield match, officiating the contest between Western Australia and South Australia at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Beyond domestic cricket, Abood gained valuable First-Class experience by standing in five tour matches involving visiting teams from New Zealand, England, India, and Pakistan. His First-Class career has also taken him abroad, where he has officiated in the Plunkett Shield in New Zealand, the Sunfoil Series in South Africa, and the Ranji Trophy in India. In total, Abood has stood in 93 First-Class matches, including the 2017–18 Sheffield Shield Final between Queensland and Tasmania at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
Luke O’Brien, Cricket Australia’s Match Officials Manager, said “Gerard’s dedication, professionalism, and consistency over many years have set the benchmark for umpiring in Australian cricket. Achieving this milestone is testament not only to his skill, but also to his resilience and passion for the game. We are incredibly proud of his contribution.”
Darren Goodger, Cricket NSW Chief Premier Cricket and Country Cricket Officer, added: “Gerard has been a wonderful servant to cricket and a role model for umpires across the country. His journey from umpiring Premier Cricket in New South Wales to this historic milestone is inspiring. We congratulate Gerard and thank him for his outstanding on and off field service to the game.”
Sheffield Shield Matches
Gerard Abood 84
Peter Parker 83
Bob Parry 77
Simon Fry 76
Ian Lock 76