AUS vs IND: Claire Polosak becomes the first female to officiate men’s Test
The third Test between India and Australia will be an interesting affair as the series is levelled at 1-1 currently. Adding to it, Australia’s Claire Polosak has become the first female match official to do the role in men’s Test match. Polosak is the fourth umpire during the ongoing third Test between Australia and India in Sydney.
The 32-year-old Polosak already has the credit of becoming the first female match official in men’s ODI. She plied her role in a match in ICC’s Division 2 league, which was played between Namibia and Oman at Windhoek in 2019. The on-field umpires in the 3rd Test between cricketing giants are Paul Reiffel, and Paul Wilson, and the TV umpire is Bruce Oxenford. David Boon of Australia is designated as the match referee for this match.
The list of accomplishments grows for Claire Polosak!
After becoming the first woman to officiate men’s ODI, she today becomes the first woman to officiate a men’s Test match. Congratulations Claire! ? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ON9mg7Fc60
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 7, 2021
Claire Polosak – first female to officiate men’s List A game
According to the rules of ICC, the fourth umpire role is given by the home cricket board among their nominees from the international panel. The panel consists of ICC umpires from the host nation. Polosak is a resident of New South Wales’ Goulburn city and also has the distinction of being the first female match official in men’s List A game in her country.
Moving on to the roles of the fourth umpire, the person is supposed to bring the new ball on the field and often fetches drinks for on-field umpires. The person also takes care of checking the batteries in the light meter, checking if the pitch is perfect during the intervals or there is any hindrance, and also brings new bails on the field. As and when required, the fourth umpire also takes over the change of the third umpire is there’ some issue with any of the on-field umpires. In that case, the third umpire moves on the field.
