Semmens stepping up to the big time | O’Connor, Small elevated, as NZC Match Officials confirmed

Posted Wednesday, 1 October, 2025 in International News

Auckland’s Tina Semmens, Otago’s Shayne O’Connor, and Central Districts’ Bevan Small headline the latest round of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Match Official appointments for the 2025-26 season.

Following her international debut last season, Semmens has been officially appointed to the ICC International Panel of Umpires, becoming just the second New Zealand woman to be elevated to the panel, following in the footsteps of current panel member Kim Cotton.

Semmens’ elevation marks another milestone in NZC’s commitment to developing female officials through targeted pathways and support.

She will continue to serve on the NZC Emerging Women’s Umpire Panel, alongside Christelle High (Northern Districts) and Alyson Shipley (Canterbury).

Meanwhile, former BLACKCAPS bowler Shayne O’Connor has been promoted to the ICC International Panel of Match Referees, replacing Richard Hayward, who stepped down from the international role at the end of last season. Hayward remains on the NZC domestic Match Referee Panel, continuing his long-standing contribution to the game.

Another exciting development sees Bevan Small (Central Districts) selected as the new recipient of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) Scholarship Umpire Programme, a joint initiative between NZC and the NZCPA aimed at encouraging former players to take up umpiring.

Small follows recent recipients Craig Pryor and Brad Wilson, who have completed their scholarships and are now umpiring within the regional network out of Auckland.

New Zealand continues to be represented at the highest level of international umpiring by Chris Gaffaney, who retains his place on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.

Gaffaney remains in the very top echelon of world umpires, with regular appointments in the game’s most prestigious series, including the recent World Test Championship Final.

All nine current members of the NZC G.J. Gardner Homes National Umpire Panel return this season, five of whom serve as International Panel Umpires and can therefore stand in white-ball internationals in New Zealand - Chris Brown (Auckland), Cory Black (Wellington), Kim Cotton (Canterbury), Shaun Haig (Otago), and Wayne Knights (Auckland).

Regional umpiring continues to play a vital role in NZC’s officiating framework, with several umpires across the country bringing valuable first-class and high-level domestic experience to their respective Major Association panels. This blend of emerging talent and seasoned officials ensures a strong foundation for development and match coverage nationwide.

Meanwhile, long-serving scorer David Perry (Otago) has stepped down from the National Scorer Panel, concluding a professional scoring career that spanned 10 years across the Otago and Canterbury regions.

On the Reserve Scorer Panel, Arun Kumar (Canterbury) and Ben McNeil (Auckland) have moved on to opportunities abroad, with their positions now filled by Counties Manukau’s Ian Pool, Whanganui’s Andrea Bryan, and Marlborough’s Braden Byrne.

NZC Head of Match Officials Andrew Duncan congratulated all officials on their selection.

“It’s always an exciting time confirming the appointments and I want to commend all the match officials chosen for the coming season.”

“There’s strong continuity across our panels, along with a high level of skill and experience at every level of the game.

“The depth across our panels, from emerging talent to those with first-class and international experience provides a strong foundation for both current performance and future development.

“Whether officiating in domestic competitions or representing New Zealand internationally, they play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and quality of our cricket.

“I know all the match officials confirmed for the coming season are excited and can’t wait to get stuck in for another summer.”

The NZC domestic season gets underway on Saturday 25 October, with the opening round of the Ford Trophy.

NZC Match Officials Panels 2025-26

NZC G.J. Gardner Homes National Umpire Panel 2025-26