Best Female Umpire in the World
There is no single official ranking that names one best female umpire in the world, but on the evidence of appointments, finals, and barrier-breaking firsts, Australia’s Claire Polosak has the strongest claim. She was the first woman to stand in a men’s One Day International, the first woman to officiate in a men’s Test, and the first woman to stand in Australia’s Sheffield Shield. Alongside her, Sue Redfern, Kim Cotton, and Lauren Agenbag form the leading group of women umpires in international cricket.
How the best female umpire is judged
Umpiring quality is judged by the matches officials are trusted with. The clearest signals are selection for World Cup finals, appointments to men’s international and first-class cricket, and promotion through the ICC’s umpiring panels. An umpire who repeatedly earns finals and cross-gender appointments has been tested under the highest pressure and passed.
- Finals appointments: Standing in a World Cup final is the strongest endorsement an umpire can receive, because the ICC selects its most trusted officials for those matches.
- Men’s cricket breakthroughs: Officiating men’s internationals and first-class matches tests an umpire against faster bowling, bigger crowds, and intense scrutiny.
- Panel progression: Moving from domestic cricket to the ICC Development Panel and then to major tournaments shows sustained performance over years, not one good season.
- Consistency under technology: Modern umpires work with the Decision Review System, television replays, and ball-tracking, so accuracy and calm communication matter as much as eyesight.
Claire Polosak: the umpire who broke the most barriers
Polosak’s record is built on firsts that changed what was considered possible for women officials. She became the first woman to stand in a men’s ODI, and in January 2021 she became the first woman to officiate in a men’s Test when she served as fourth umpire in the India-Australia Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In 2023 she became the first woman to officiate a Sheffield Shield match, Australia’s premier first-class competition, when she stood in the fixture between Western Australia and South Australia at the WACA.
Polosak has also been a regular at women’s global tournaments, including selection in the ICC’s all-female panel for the Women’s World Cup 2025. Her career shows a steady climb from domestic cricket to the biggest stages in both the women’s and men’s games, which is why she is the most frequently named answer to this question.
Sue Redfern: the former player turned leading official
Sue Redfern played for England women between 1995 and 1999 before moving into umpiring, and her playing background gives her a deep reading of the game. She was selected as an on-field umpire for an ODI between Australia and England, and her career tally includes dozens of women’s internationals across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, along with men’s limited-overs and first-class fixtures.
Redfern’s landmark came in 2022, when she joined the ECB’s Professional Umpires’ Team, and in 2023 she became the first woman to officiate a first-class match in England, standing in the fixture between Glamorgan and Derbyshire at Sophia Gardens. She was also named in the ICC’s all-female panel for the Women’s World Cup 2025, confirming her standing among the world’s leading women officials.
Kim Cotton: the final-stage specialist
New Zealand’s Kim Cotton has built her reputation on being trusted with the biggest matches. She stood as an on-field umpire in the Women’s World Cup final of 2022, alongside South Africa’s Lauren Agenbag, with India’s GS Lakshmi as match referee in an all-women officiating team. Cotton also stood in the Women’s T20 World Cup final of 2020 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, another appointment that marks her out as one of the most dependable officials in the women’s game.
Cotton’s strength is composure. Finals bring the largest crowds, the highest stakes, and the closest scrutiny of every decision, and the ICC returns to officials who handle those occasions without fuss.
Lauren Agenbag: rapid rise to the top panel
South Africa’s Lauren Agenbag rose quickly through the officiating ranks and stood alongside Kim Cotton as an on-field umpire in the 2022 Women’s World Cup final. She was also named in the ICC’s all-female panel for the Women’s World Cup 2025. Agenbag represents the generation of women officials who came through structured development pathways rather than breaking in from scratch, and her finals appointments show how far that pathway has come.
GS Lakshmi: the pioneering match referee
GS Lakshmi is not an umpire but a match referee, and the distinction matters. Umpires make on-field decisions; referees oversee discipline, playing conditions, and the conduct of the match. Lakshmi became the first woman appointed to the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, the first woman match referee in a men’s ODI, and the match referee for the 2022 Women’s World Cup final. Her career shows that women’s leadership in cricket officiating extends beyond on-field umpiring into the management of the game itself. To understand how the two roles differ, see the guide to umpire versus referee.
Leading women umpires and their landmark appointments
| Umpire | Country | Landmark appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Claire Polosak | Australia | First woman to stand in a men’s ODI; first woman to officiate a men’s Test; first woman to stand in a Sheffield Shield match |
| Sue Redfern | England | First woman to officiate a first-class match in England; member of the ECB Professional Umpires’ Team |
| Kim Cotton | New Zealand | On-field umpire in the 2022 Women’s World Cup final and the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final |
| Lauren Agenbag | South Africa | On-field umpire in the 2022 Women’s World Cup final |
| Shivani Mishra | India / Qatar | First woman on-field umpire in a men’s T20I; member of the ICC Development Panel |
| Jacqueline Williams | West Indies | First woman to serve as third umpire in a men’s international; TV umpire in the 2022 Women’s World Cup final |
| Vrinda Rathi | India | Member of the ICC all-female panel for the Women’s World Cup 2025 |
The all-female panel at the Women’s World Cup 2025
The ICC appointed an all-female panel of match officials for the Women’s World Cup 2025: 14 umpires and 4 match referees. The umpires were Lauren Agenbag, Candace la Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, and Jacqueline Williams. The match referees were Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, and Michell Pereira. The panel was a milestone for the sport, and it also showed the depth now available: the ICC could staff an entire World Cup with women officials without compromising on experience.
How women umpires reach the top level
The pathway begins in domestic cricket, where aspiring umpires officiate club and state matches, complete coaching and assessment courses, and build a record of accurate decision-making. Strong performers are nominated to the ICC Development Panel, where they receive mentoring, fitness and skills training, and appointments at age-group and qualifying tournaments. From there, the best progress to senior ICC events, and a small number cross over into men’s internationals and first-class cricket.
Technology has changed the job along the way. Modern umpires work with the Decision Review System, stump microphones, and multiple camera angles, which means their decisions are reviewed in real time by millions of viewers. The officials who thrive are those who combine sharp judgement with clear communication and the temperament to move on from a decision that is overturned.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best female umpire in the world?
There is no official ranking, but Claire Polosak has the strongest claim based on her record of firsts: the first woman to stand in a men’s ODI, the first woman to officiate a men’s Test, and the first woman to stand in a Sheffield Shield match.
Who was the first woman to umpire a men’s Test match?
Claire Polosak of Australia, who served as fourth umpire in the India-Australia Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2021.
Who were the umpires for the 2022 Women’s World Cup final?
Lauren Agenbag of South Africa and Kim Cotton of New Zealand were the on-field umpires, Jacqueline Williams of West Indies was the TV umpire, and GS Lakshmi of India was the match referee.
What is the difference between an umpire and a match referee?
Umpires make on-field decisions such as outs, no-balls, and wides. Match referees oversee discipline, playing conditions, and the overall conduct of the match. GS Lakshmi is a referee, not an on-field umpire.
Can women umpires officiate men’s cricket?
Yes. Claire Polosak has officiated in men’s Tests and the Sheffield Shield, Sue Redfern has officiated first-class cricket in England, and Shivani Mishra was the first woman on-field umpire in a men’s T20I.
How many women officials were at the Women’s World Cup 2025?
The ICC appointed an all-female panel of 18 officials: 14 umpires and 4 match referees.