Sue Redfern set to become first woman to officiate in an England men's home fixture

Sue Redfern is all set to become the first women to adjudicate in an England’s men home fixture with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointing her as the fourth umpire for the first men’s T20I between England and Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Wednesday (June 23).



Alex Wharf, who originally was listed as the fourth umpire for the match, is currently officiating the men’s World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. With inclement weather forcing the match into the reserve day on Wednesday, Redfern will fill in for the role of Wharf.



43-year-old Redfern is an experienced official having stood in 32 women’s international matches as the on-field umpire and has been in charge as the third umpire in another 12 matches. She last officiated an international match when she stood in the one-off women’s Test between India and England in Bristol that ended on June 20.



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Earlier in January this year, Australia’s Claire Polosak became the first to officiate in a men’s Test when she officiated as the fourth umpire during the match between Australia and India in Sydney.



Redfern, who represented England in six Tests and 15 ODIs and took 22 wickets, has been officiating in England’s domestic matches regularly and recently did the job in the ongoing Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.



Redfern was an on-field official during World Cricket League Division Five match between Oman and Nigeria along with West Indies’ Jacqueline Williams, making it the first recorded instance of two women being in charge of a men’s international match.