NZ vs SL: New Zealand’s Kim Cotton becomes first woman on-field umpire in full-member men’s T20Is

NZ vs SL: Cotton first marked her presence in the men’s game as a TV umpired in 2020 during a tied contest between India and New Zealand in Hamilton.

Umpire Kim Cotton (R) became the first woman to officiate as an on-field umpire in a full-member T20I clash between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Zealand’s Kim Cotton on Wednesday became the first woman on-field umpire in a full-member men’s T20I during New Zealand’s second match against Sri Lanka in Dunedin.

Cotton, 48, has previously officiated in 54 women’s T20Is, both as an on-field and TV umpire, besides 24 women’s ODIs since 2018.

Cotton first marked her presence in the men’s game as a TV umpire in 2020 during a tied contest between India and New Zealand in Hamilton.

History today for umpire Kim Cotton who becomes the first female umpire to stand in a men's international match between two @ICC full member countries 🤝#NZvSL#CricketNationpic.twitter.com/EI8C1RJt4d

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) April 5, 2023

Cotton has also officiated in three T20 World Cups and an ODI World Cup since 2018, including the finals in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Previously, Australia’s Claire Polosak had become the first female match official in a men’s Test match when she donned the fourth umpire’s role during the 2021-22 Border Gavaskar Trophy Test between India and Australia in Sydney.