Eight NSWCUSA Members on 20-21 CA Umpire Panels

Cricket Australia have today confirmed their contracted umpires for season 2020-21, with eight NSWCUSA members selected on the National and Supplementary Umpire Panels for the upcoming summer.

Despite the decrease from twelve to ten umpires, the four NSWCUSA members on the National Panel have been retained – Gerard Abood, Greg Davidson, Tony Wilds and Paul Wilson.

Three changes have been made to the panel from last season; including the elevation of Tasmanian umpire Darren Close who last season returned to first-class cricket 27 years after his last appearance at that level.

He replaces Victorian umpire Geoff Joshua on the panel.

South Australian Simon Fry and Victorian John Ward retired at the conclusion of the summer after extensive careers and have not been replaced, leading to the ten-man panel.

With the retirement of Fry and Ward, Gerard Abood is now the longest-serving umpire on the panel, having joined ahead of the 2009-10 season.

2019-20 was a successful season for NSWCUSA’s National Panel representatives – Gerard Abood officiated the BBL and One-Day Cup Finals with Paul Wilson partnering him for the rain-affected BBL Final.

Tony Wilds was also appointed to the Women’s T20 International Tri-Series Final.

NSWCUSA members Simon Lightbody, Troy Penman, Claire Polosak and Ben Treloar will all continue on the Supplementary Panel, as well as West Australian Nathan Johnstone.

They will be joined by Queensland umpire David Taylor who has been elevated to fill the vacancy left by Close.

Penman, Polosak and Treloar were all on-field for domestic finals last year, with Polosak and Treloar overseeing the WBBL Final whilst Penman and Treloar officiated the WNCL decider.

Treloar also made his List A debut in the One-Day Cup last season, umpiring the fixture between South Australia and Tasmania in Adelaide.

The four Australian members of the International Panel of ICC Umpires will remain unchanged for the upcoming summer.

The full Cricket Australia Panels for the 2020-21 season are as follows:

2020-21 National Umpire Panel

Gerard Abood (New South Wales)

Darren Close (Tasmania)

Shawn Craig (Victoria)

Greg Davidson (New South Wales)

Phil Gillespie (Victoria)

Mike Graham-Smith (Tasmania)

Donovan Koch (Queensland)

Sam Nogajski (Tasmania)

Tony Wilds (New South Wales)

Paul Wilson (New South Wales)

2020-21 Supplementary Umpire Panel

Nathan Johnstone (Western Australia)

Simon Lightbody (New South Wales)

Troy Penman (New South Wales)

Claire Polosak (New South Wales)

David Taylor (Queensland)

Ben Treloar (New South Wales)

2020-21 International Umpire Panel

Gerard Abood (New South Wales)

Shawn Craig (Victoria)

Sam Nogajski (Tasmania)

Paul Wilson (New South Wales)