Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel member Riki Wessels made his KFC Big Bash League umpiring debut in the Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder match at Adelaide Oval.
Wessels became the 39th Australian umpire — and just the sixth from Queensland — to stand in a BBL match.
A former First-Class cricketer, Wessels represented Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Worcestershire County Cricket Clubs during a distinguished playing career. He also featured in the KFC BBL05 season, playing nine matches for the Sydney Sixers, highlighted by a memorable half century in the Sydney Smash at the Olympic Stadium.
Following his retirement from playing at the end of the 2022 season, Wessels returned to Brisbane and began his umpiring journey in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition. His strong performances saw him appointed to the Queensland State & Territory Umpire Panel (STUP) ahead of the 2023–24 season.
Wessels’ umpiring pathway with Cricket Australia has included appointments to the Finals of both the Under 17 and Under 19 Male National Championships. He has also stood in eight WBBL matches on-field, with an additional four matches as TV Umpire.
Ahead of the current season, Wessels was appointed to the Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel for the first time. He has since made both his List A and First-Class umpiring debuts — officiating in the One Day Cup match between Queensland and Victoria at Allan Border Field, and the Sheffield Shield fixture between New South Wales and Tasmania at Cricket Central in Sydney.