Former Black Caps and Otago left-arm bowler Shayne O’Connor has been promoted to the ICC international panel of match referees.
The 51-year-old replaces Richard Hayward, who stepped down at the end of last season.
Hayward remains on the New Zealand Cricket domestic match referee panel, continuing his long-standing contribution.
Aucklander Tina Semmens, who made her international debut last season, has been appointed to the ICC international panel of umpires, becoming just the second New Zealand woman to be elevated to the panel.
She follows in the footsteps of panel member Kim Cotton.
Semmens will continue to serve on the NZC emerging women’s umpire panel.
Bevan Small (Central Districts) has been selected as the new recipient of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association scholarship umpire programme, a joint initiative between NZC and the NZCPA aimed at encouraging former players to take up umpiring.
Small follows recent recipients Craig Pryor and Brad Wilson, who have completed their scholarships and are now umpiring within the regional network out of Auckland.
New Zealand continues to be represented at the highest level of international umpiring by Otago’s Chris Gaffaney, who retains his place on the ICC elite panel of umpires.
Gaffaney remains in the top echelon of world umpires with regular appointments in the game’s most prestigious series, including the recent World Test Championship final.
Otago scorer David Perry has stepped down from the national scorer panel, concluding a professional scoring career that spanned 10 years.
The NZC domestic season gets under way on October 25 with the opening round of the Ford Trophy. — Allied Media
