Kerrin earns spot on ICC panel

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Young local cricket umpire Kerrin Klaaste is unstoppable. In the most recent achievement in her astronomical rise up the umpiring ranks, she has been named as one of the latest additions to the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires.

Klaaste, 24, received the news in the build-up to the Varsity Cup (which was also a major success) and she is finding it hard to describe how much it means to her.

"I haven't yet processed it entirely," she said earlier this week. "I would not have expected to be appointed onto the ICC's development panel so soon in my umpiring career. At this point, I cannot put into words how happy I am, but I'll start with a whole lot of gratitude for the opportunity."

The development panel

She is one of only 60 umpires from around the world to be selected to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) International Panel of Development Umpires. Alongside fellow female umpire Lauren Agenbag she is one of only two South Africans on the panel.

"Given that there is currently only one other South African on the development panel, I'd say that it's an enormous stride in any umpire's career," she said of her selection.

"To be recognised on an international platform opens up the playing field tremendously. I look forward to representing my country globally one day, but before that happens, I have a lot of hard work cut out for me as preparation continues."

Kerrin Klaaste raked in numerous awards at the end of the 2021/22 season, including the SWD Umpire of the Year.

2022 Varsity Cup

It was a major success for her as she was afforded the opportunity to umpire a televised game for the first time ever. The pressure didn't phase Klaaste, though, as she performed so well that she was selected as one of the two on-field umpires for the final of the tournament.

"It was by far one of the best tournaments I've had. I think the most crucial and influential aspect was sufficient preparation beforehand," she reminisced this week. "It had set the standard and pace of things for the duration of the tournament. I'd had a couple of experienced gentlemen assist with my preparation, and I couldn't thank them enough."

She also expressed a desire for the tournament to be a bit longer, "so that each of us could act in more of the roles (on-field, 3rd, 4th umpire) for the televised games on more than one occasion", as the type of experience and confidence you earn while doing so "cannot be bought".

Klaaste is holding out hope for one more thing. "Perhaps one day there'll be a ladies Varsity Cup and it'll create even more opportunities for us as umpires."

Kerrin Klaaste signals a four during the Varsity Cup.