Top 5 Best Women Cricket Umpires In The World (2025 List)

An umpire stands at the crease and makes decisions. They watch the ball. They watch the bat. They watch the stumps. They decide whether a batsman is out or not out. They decide whether a delivery is legal or illegal. The game cannot be played without them. In women’s cricket, there have been umpires who have done more than just officiate matches. They have broken barriers. They have umpired men’s matches. They have umpired World Cup finals. They have set records for the number of matches they have umpired. These five women are among the best umpires in women’s cricket. They have earned their place through years of hard work and countless matches. They have proven that umpiring is not about gender. It’s about knowledge, judgment, and consistency.

1. Claire Polosak (Australia)

Polosak has umpired in 49 women’s ODIs and 68 women’s T20Is as of the start of 2024. She has also officiated in three women’s Test matches. This is more international women’s matches than any other currently active female umpire.

She was the first woman to umpire in a men’s One Day International, a historic achievement. Men’s cricket is the most high-profile format of the game, and umpiring in a men’s ODI as a woman is a significant accomplishment. Polosak proved her capabilities by achieving this.

She was part of the all-female umpiring panel for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. She umpired in one semi-final and one group stage match of that tournament. The World Cup is the biggest event in women’s cricket, and being selected for it demonstrates her competence. Being entrusted with a semi-final further highlights the confidence placed in her.

Polosak’s sheer volume of matches and her remarkable achievements place her at the top. She has umpired in more international women’s matches than any other currently active female umpire, and she has also broken barriers in men’s cricket. This combination puts her at the forefront.

2. Jacqueline Williams (West Indies)

Williams has umpired in 46 women’s ODIs and 85 women’s T20Is. She has also officiated in five men’s ODIs, including neutral matches and ICC events. She has been a long-standing umpire on the ICC Development Panel since 2019.

She umpired in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and was selected for the final. The final is the biggest match of the tournament, and only the best umpires are chosen for it. Williams’ selection demonstrates the ICC’s confidence in her abilities.

She was the first West Indies woman umpire to officiate in a men’s T20I match between full member nations. This is a significant achievement. Men’s T20I matches between full member nations are high-pressure games, and Williams handled the pressure and made accurate decisions.

Her extensive experience in international matches and her excellent performance in both women’s and men’s cricket have placed her among the top umpires. She consistently receives appointments from the ICC, which reflects her consistently high quality over time.

3. Lauren Agenbag (South Africa)

Eganbag has umpired in approximately eighty-five women’s T20Is, thirty-two women’s ODIs, and eleven men’s T20Is. This is a significant body of work across both formats and in both men’s and women’s cricket.

She became the youngest umpire to officiate in a Cricket World Cup final in 2022. This is a remarkable achievement. The World Cup final is the biggest stage, and being selected for it at such a young age demonstrates exceptional talent. Eganbag was trusted with that responsibility.

She was the first South African woman to umpire in an international T20I match in 2019. This broke a barrier for South African women in umpiring. She was appointed to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 umpiring panel. This shows continued recognition of her skills.

Eganbag ranks third due to her exceptional experience and the historic moments she has been a part of in major ICC events. She has achieved things at her age that no one else has. This makes her special.

4. Kim Cotton (New Zealand)

Cotton has umpired in 76 women’s T20Is, 32 women’s ODIs, and 10 men’s T20Is. She has been part of the official umpiring panels for the 2022 and 2025 World Cups. This demonstrates the high level of trust placed in her at the top level.

She was the first New Zealand woman umpire to officiate in a full-member men’s T20I match. This is a historic achievement for women in cricket umpiring in New Zealand. Men’s T20I matches are fast-paced and high-pressure. Cotton proved she could handle it.

She was appointed as the third umpire for a semi-final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. The third umpire makes decisions on television referrals. These decisions are crucial and subject to scrutiny. Cotton was trusted with this role in a semi-final.

Cotton is ranked fourth due to her extensive international experience and her impressive appointments in mixed-gender men’s international matches. She has proven herself in both women’s and men’s cricket at the international level.

5. Sue Redfern (England)

Redfern has had a long umpiring career since 2015 and has been appointed to numerous ICC matches. She is one of the few women to have played international women’s cricket and then gone on to umpire at the ICC level. This gives her a unique understanding of the game.

She was selected for the officiating panel of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and was assigned to umpire a semi-final match. Semi-finals are crucial matches, and only experienced umpires are chosen for them. Redfern was selected based on her proven track record.

She has also umpired men’s domestic first-class matches in England. First-class cricket is the traditional, longer format of the domestic game. Umpiring at that level requires a deep understanding of the rules and the ability to maintain focus for extended periods. Redfern possesses these qualities.

Redfern is ranked fifth due to her unique dual career, which gives her a profound understanding of the game and considerable experience in high-level competition. Having played at the international level, she understands what players are thinking and the pressures they face. This helps her make better decisions as an umpire.

Read More: Top 11 Best Cricket Umpires In The World (2025 List)