Former Yorkshire and England player Laura Spragg completed her ECB Umpire Course in December 2023 after eight years away from the sport.
“Cricket was such a big part of my life, and then to not have it anymore was kind of weird,” she says. “Cricket’s always been a really happy place for me, and I just wanted to give something back. Umpiring felt like a good way of doing that.”
Her journey so far has been quicker than she expected. Having spent 2024 officiating recreational men’s matches and some County Age-Group fixtures, she was spotted by the ECB and has this year controlled a handful of Tier 2 fixtures on county grounds while balancing her career as a paramedic.
“It’s been really nice to be back on the pitch with girls who love cricket,” says the official. “I’m comfortable on a cricket pitch, and I understand the frustration and emotions that come with playing the game. When players realise I have that playing background, I think it earns me a bit of respect.
“That said, not having a cricket background shouldn’t stop anyone from going into officiating. I’ve met plenty of women who umpire simply because they love the game and I have even more respect for them.”
Sunday’s fixture will not be Spragg’s first final, having already overseen the U18 County Cup Final at Grantham earlier this month. “Big games don’t really bother me,” she says. “I just want to officiate well. That’s the ideal for any umpire.”
Working with her on Sunday will be Staffordshire-based Kelly Alcock, a headteacher with her own long history of cricket involvement. After many years of playing and junior coaching, she was searching for a fresh challenge when her cousin, who works at Staffordshire Cricket, suggested umpiring.
She says: “At first, I thought I’d just do it to fill my time – even though as a headteacher I don’t really have much time. But I love cricket, as do my children, and after a few games I thought ‘I’m quite good at this.’”
She adds: “Umpiring really is the best seat in the house. It allows me to switch off from work and everything else. I’ve a busy life, but when I step onto the pitch I don’t think about anything else. For me, cricket is the release.”
Kelly says support from ECB Regional Officiating Development Officer Gareth Isaac has been crucial this year, enabling her to better manage her schedule and focusing on key fixtures that help her development.
“That support probably saved me from walking away,” she says, after attempting to do as many fixtures as possible in 2024. “I just couldn’t have kept going at that pace.”
Now at the W3 stage of the pathway – which can involve umpiring senior county cricket and county age groups - she has her sights set firmly on the top. She says: “I definitely want to umpire at the highest level I can. But I want to do it through credibility, not just because I’m female. I want to succeed on merit.”
She adds: “To anyone considering umpiring, I’d say: just do it. Get yourself that first game. My first men’s match was nerve-wracking, but it wasn’t as daunting as I expected.”
Laura Spragg is equally direct. “Go for it,” she says. “There’s nothing to lose. Just dip your toe in and have a go. If you do like it and do well, there are lots of opportunities to aim for.”
Both Laura and Kelly have previously attended the ECB Umpire Course and are actively officiating in the ECB Umpire Progression Pathway. To find out more about the ECB Umpire Progression Pathway, click here. To start your umpiring journey, like Laura and Kelly, find your next ECB Umpire Course today.