North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Globe-trotting umpire joins NZ cricket
From the fields of Finland to suburban Auckland Diana Venter has closely watched countless games of cricket, never once worrying who won.
Venter is a pioneering cricket umpire who will spend the next six months juggling her IT career with local, domestic and international officiating appointments.
This season she has been named on the New Zealand Cricket’s High Performance Umpire Reserve Panel for the first time. Reserve panel umpires stand in the provincial A championships, national secondary school championships, age-group tournaments, Hawke Cup and women’s domestic cricket.
In the early 2000s Venter was the only woman coaching cricket in Finland. In order to get an edge over her male counterparts, Venter decided to get to know the rules better than them.
Which led to umpiring opportunities in Italy, France and Slovenia at ICC Europe tournaments.
Since arriving in New Zealand in late 2004, Venter has umpired Auckland premier men’s club cricket, been on the NZC Umpires Association board for examination and stood in national women’s under-21 tournaments.
During her time in the middle, the Northcross resident has often been a leader.
As a member of Auckland Cricket’s exchange programme with Cricket Victoria this year, she became the first woman to umpire a Melbourne men’s premier
‘‘It is one of the two best seats in the game.’’
Umpire Diana Venter
grade match.
In November she will be involved in a world first.
The White Ferns twenty20 international against Pakistan in Nelson will be umpired by an allwoman team of Venter, Wellington’s Kathy Cross and Canterbury’s Kim Cotton.
It is believed to be the first time three women umpires will stand together in an international match.
Auckland Cricket’s umpire administrator Doug Cowie says Venter’s pathway in umpiring is unique but he is hoping to see more women officiating.
‘‘The whole of New Zealand Cricket is putting a lot more focus on community cricket, not just the higher level, and in general there are more opportunities for umpires to start at any level,’’ Cowie says. ‘‘And a good first place is at a local club.’’
Venter says umpiring is ‘‘not that dreadful or daunting’’.
‘‘It is one of the two best seats in the game. You’re part of every single ball without having to worry about the outcome of the game.’’