When people think about growing the game of cricket, they often think about players. But a thriving game needs far more than those who step into the field. It needs coaches. It needs scorers. It needs volunteers, and it needs umpires.
At Cambridgeshire Cricket, we believe that cricket truly is a game for everyone. Our role as guardians of the game across the county is not only to support today's players, but to create opportunities for everyone who wants to be involved in cricket, ensuring the game continues to thrive.
For women and girls, this means more than simply increasing participation on the pitch. It means removing barriers, creating opportunities, empowering women into leadership positions and ensuring female voices are heard across every aspect of the game. From coaches and scorers to board members, volunteers and umpires, representation matters. When people can see someone like themselves involved in cricket, they begin to believe that they can be part of it too
Few people understand this better than ECB qualified umpire & Director of Cambridgeshire cricket, Lizzy Conder. Reflecting on attending the second day of the historic Women's Test Match at Lord's in July alongside eight other female umpires from Cambridgeshire, Lizzy recognised just how far the county has come in such a short space of time.
"On 11 July 2026, I spent an amazing second day of the first Women's Test Match at Lord's in the company of eight other women umpires from Cambridgeshire. As is the way with such experiences, it is only afterwards that I have been able to reflect on how far Cambridgeshire Cricket has come in its journey to make cricket a game for everyone, including officiating.
"When I first moved to Cambridgeshire in 2022, I was fortunate to be asked to join the Cricket Board. I found experienced women scorers and volunteers within league administration, but no other woman who was regularly umpiring."
Fast forward just four years and the picture looks remarkably different.
Through the commitment of all at Cambridgeshire Cricket, and the Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Association of Cricket Officials (CHACO), the county has transformed its female umpiring community.
The number of women regularly umpiring cricket across Cambridgeshire has grown from one in 2023 to eleven in 2026, with a further ten women completing the ECB Umpiring Course to officiate at their own clubs. It is a fantastic achievement, built on more than delivering courses and training. Becoming an umpire is just the start it is important to keep them involved which requires opportunity, confidence and community. In Cambridgeshire women officials are able to stand alongside experienced colleagues who have supported their development, while a strong network has grown where women support women, both on and off the field.
As part of the Board's new strategy, a target was set for every home County Age Group girls' fixture in Cambridgeshire to have at least one qualified female umpire by 2027. This has been achieved a full year early, and is a significant milestone. Alongside this success, every Women's Premier League and Division One home fixture in Cambridgeshire, together with the Girls' and Women's Club Finals, will also benefit from qualified female officials which is fantastic progress.
This summer, nine Cambridgeshire women umpires celebrated this progress together at Lord's during the Women's Test Match. Watching female officials take charge on one of cricket's biggest stages perfectly embodied Cambridgeshire's commitment to creating a genuine "See It. Be It." culture.
The group watched with pride as Gabi Brown, who had delivered Cambridgeshire's Women and Girls Umpiring Course earlier in the year, took to the field as Fourth Umpire.
They also met representatives from the ECB and MCC before enjoying a memorable visit to the Test Match Special commentary box, where they witnessed history being announced live as a world-record attendance for a single day's Women's Test Match was confirmed. In inspiring experience.
Dr Carol Leonardi-Brown from Cambridge Caribbean Cricket Academy reflected: "What an extraordinary privilege to spend the day at Lord's. Lord's is more than a cricket ground; it is where history and magic meet. To step into the Pavilion at Lord's, witness the game and see the media at work up close was a dream come true."
For retired RAF officer Maggie Boyle, umpiring opened a completely new chapter. "I have been a fan of cricket for decades but never had the chance to play. As I was thinking about retirement, I heard an episode of the No Balls podcast where Anna Harris and Sue Redfern talked about how they got into umpiring.
"I realised this was something I could try too, so once I finished work I did the course and met a great bunch of people. That was 2025, and since then I've umpired about 20 matches, mostly for girls' and women's cricket. I'm really glad to be able to give something back to the sport I've enjoyed for so long."
Current player Neha Jamwal has also discovered umpiring offers a different way to enjoy the game she loves. "I completed the ECB Foundation Level Umpiring Course earlier this year out of curiosity, to explore the world of umpiring and learn more about the Laws of Cricket. I really enjoy umpiring and watching different players play their game. As a cricketer myself, it has given me a new perspective on the game.
"One of the best parts of the journey has been finding such a wonderful group of female umpires who have been so supportive, encouraging and welcoming. One of the highlights so far has been our unforgettable day at Lord's."
While the numbers are definitely encouraging, this story is about much more than increasing the number of female officials.
It is about creating cricket environments where women feel welcomed, valued and supported and ensuring young girls can look around a cricket ground and see female coaches, scorers, volunteers, board members and umpires, seeing that there is a place for them in every area of the game.
Cambridgeshire Cricket is proud of how far it has come, and remains committed to growing its community of women officials, removing barriers and ensuring cricket is a game for everyone, helping to secure a more diverse future for the game across Cambridgeshire.
As Lizzy Conder reflects: "As a Board, we hope to continue growing the community of women umpires in Cambridgeshire, who definitely have the best view of women's and girls' cricket across the county."