Claire Polosak to become the first woman umpire in Australian men’s domestic cricket

Claire Polosak never played cricket and failed the umpires’ exam “a few times” but is set to become the first woman to officiate an Australian men’s top level fixture when New South Wales play a Cricket Australia XI in a one-day match on Sunday.

Polosak, a fixture in men’s club matches in Sydney, will take the field with veteran umpire Paul Wilson at Hurstville Oval, where Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc is also expected to feature for the Blues.

The 29-year-old, who also officiated four matches at the Women’s World Cup in England earlier this year, said becoming an cricket umpire had been something she was just determined to do, despite having no experience playing the game.