Just four years after controlling her first cricket fixture, Gabi Brown’s hard work and dedication has been recognised with her appointment to the ECB’s Professional Umpires’ Team.
The Nottingham-based umpire will now work as a full-time match official, overseeing both domestic and international women’s cricket in 2026 as well as men’s county second XI fixtures.
Gabi is one of four new appointees to the team, alongside former Lancashire player Gareth Cross and ex-National Panel umpires Mo Waseem and Sam Hollingshead. She follows in the footsteps of Sue Redfern, one of her closest mentors in her umpiring journey, to become the second female official on the PUT.
“I’m really proud to call myself a member of the PUT,” said Gabi. “This was never really an opportunity when I first got into umpiring, so to have come through and reached this stage is special.
“I never saw myself as any sort of trailblazer. But Anna (Harris) and I were at the Leading the Future of Women’s Cricket Conference recently, and everyone made such a big deal about the appointment that it made me realise maybe I am, in some ways.
“For me, it was always just about keeping my head down and performing. But the encouragement from other people has been really positive. If this inspires people throughout cricket to take up umpiring and gets more female umpires into clubs, counties and leagues, then that’s incredible.”
Gabi hopes her new full-time status will improve her umpiring in a myriad of different ways.
“I will now have more time to prioritise the off-field work that I struggled to balance last year things like match preparation, match reflection, fitness and nutrition – all the small details that help with performance,” she said.
“Last summer, there was a two-month spell where I was either working or umpiring every day. This year, being mentally and physically rested between games will make a big difference. It also gives me the opportunity to support the pathway more by mentoring and developing other officials.”
Despite her rapid rise, Brown has already accumulated a huge amount of experience after a tireless four years. After beginning in Nottinghamshire’s men’s leagues and women’s academy in 2022, she was appointed to three fixtures in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy the following year.
By 2024, she regularly stood in women’s professional cricket fixtures and officiated some of England Women’s warm-up matches. She was also awarded the Disability Premier League final.
Last summer, she was appointed to every women’s domestic cricket final and won the PCA Women’s Umpire of the Year award.
“I feel completely ready,” Brown said. “I’m starting the season with a strong block of women’s cricket, and it‘ll be about continuing what I did last year but with more time to prepare, practice, and hopefully deliver even better performances.”
Richard Glynne-Jones, the ECB’s head of officiating, said: “Gabi has worked tremendously hard over the last couple of years. She has shown fantastic commitment to the development of the game, come on terrifically well, and made great strides within the professional women’s game in particular.
“This appointment opens up the opportunity for Gabi to progress in both the men’s and women’s games as far as her ability, commitment and potential allow.”
Gabi’s elevation to the PUT also means she can free herself from the distractions of other work and concentrate fully on umpiring. It is hoped this will accelerate her development and improvement.
“Gabi is doing brilliantly within the ECB system, and having a second professional female umpire demonstrates that the pathway does exist,” Glynne-Jones added.
“There are opportunities for those who have the right qualities, ambition, and potential.”
For Gabi, the determination that has carried her this far is already being pointed at new targets.
“I’d like to see myself standing in internationals this season,” she said. “The goal is to keep progressing on the pathway, keep pushing, and be consistent. If I can build on what I did last season and perform even better, I’ll be in a good place.”