Claire Polosak to make her first class umpiring debut - Western Australia v South Australia at the WACA starting 15 November 2023

NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association | October 30, 2023

By Darren Goodger

A dream doesn’t become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, hard work and quality performance.

 

Hello Everyone

Claire Polosak will become the 87th member of New South Wales Cricket Umpires’ and Scorers’ Association to umpire a men’s first-class match when she walks onto the WACA Ground to officiate the round 5 Sheffield Shield fixture between Western Australia and South Australia starting November 15. Claire will be partnered on field by Sam Nogajski, David Gilbert will be the match referee.

Claire joined NSWCUSA in 2005 and was upgraded to principal member in 2021, recognising her outstanding service to the Association and to cricket umpiring in New South Wales. Claire was elevated to the Cricket Australia Supplementary Umpire Panel in 2014-15, remaining a member of this panel today. She is also a member of the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires.

Claire has enjoyed a wonderful umpiring career so far, some of her on field highlights being: 

·       Women’s Test Match | Australia v India | 2021-22

·       Men’s ODI | Namibia v Oman | 2018-19 (Final, ICC World Cricket League Division 2)

·       Two Women’s World Cup tournaments, including a semi-final appointment in 2022

·       29 WODIs since making her debut in 2016-17 in the Australia v South Africa series

·       12 Men’s T20Is since making her debut in 2022-23 in the World Cup Qualifier in Vanuatu

·       Four WT20 World Cup tournaments, including semi-final appointments in 2018, 2020 and 2023

·       52 WT20Is since making her debut in 2015-16 in the World Cup Qualifier in Thailand

·       6 List A Men’s matches in the CA One Day Domestic Cup since making her debut in 2017-18 in the New South Wales v Cricket Australia XI fixture

·       5 List A Women’s matches in the WNCL since making her debut in 2015-16, including WNCL finals in 2016-17 and 2020-21

·       2 BBL matches

·       39 WBBL matches, including 3 WBBL finals

·       U19 Men’s Test Match | Australia v Sri Lanka | 2016-17

·       U19 Men’s ODI | Australia v Sri Lanka | 2016-17

·       9 Men’s State Second XI fixtures

·       145 Men’s Premier Cricket matches, including 51 in first grade

 

Claire has also been TV Umpire for 22 international fixtures and a total of 46 CA domestic fixtures in the One Day Cup, BBL and WBBL. She is an exceptional TV Umpire, one of the most highly regarded in Australia, being appointed TV Umpire for the Bronze Medal match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Claire has so much umpiring experience to draw on and this appointment to umpire a first-class match is pleasing recognition for her application, commitment to excellence and consistent performances in recent seasons. Claire has displayed outstanding attitude, character, discipline, integrity, professionalism and teamwork. She is ready, this debut is richly deserved.

In addition to her umpiring Claire is an exemplary employee at CNSW working in umpire education and female engagement in the Cricket Performance Squad, enthusiastic about recruiting and training umpires and serving the NSWCUSA and CNSW to the highest possible standard. Claire always does her best for our members and to improve the Association. She regularly goes above and beyond in supporting the team, being such a valued member. We all appreciate and respect Claire’s knowledge, contribution and the positive difference she makes. Claire is an inspiration in our Association to all, particularly those umpires in our ranks who are female with whom she has worked so closely in her seven years as a CNSW staff member. Claire has been described as a pioneer as a match official, she is also every bit the pioneer in her work in supporting, developing and serving others in such a specific space. Claire provides outstanding example. Due to her dedication, there were 493 individual match appointments for our female umpires in season 2022-23.

Our New South Wales Cricket Community may be proud of Claire. She is an exceptional person and umpire; authentic, humble, real, living above the line behaviours in all she undertakes.

Claire’s appointment to make her first-class debut is wonderful recognition for her, but also for CNSW which has invested so heavily and positively in umpiring and in the female officiating space. We thank CNSW for the sincerity and depth of this investment.

Eloise Sheridan from South Australia will also make her first-class debut as an umpire in the same Sheffield Shield round, standing in the Victoria v Queensland fixture at the MCG starting on November 16. NSWCUSA member Gerard Abood will partner Eloise on debut, with Bob Parry the match referee. We acknowledge Eloise on her appointment, offer congratulations to her and wish her the very best. To Sarah Fry (State Umpiring Manager, SACA) and Craig Thomas (State Umpire Coach, SACA) we also offer our congratulations, both do a wonderful job supporting match officials in their respective roles at the South Australian Cricket Association.

Returning to Claire, we offer congratulations on becoming Australia’s 616th first-class umpire and our very best wishes for an enjoyable and successful first-class debut. May it be the first of many.