The opening match of Queensland's 2025-26 season tomorrow will feature the One Day Cup debut of umpire Riki Wessels, further extending the deep connection of his family with cricket.
Wessels To Make Debut
He will stand in the match between Queensland and Victoria at Allan Border Field.
Wessels, the son of former Australian and South African Test great Kepler, successfully transitioned to umpiring after an extensive playing career in England, which saw him register 224 first class games, 179 List A matches and 237 T20 games for Worcestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
The Australian-born 'keeper/batter also played in the BBL for the Sydney Sixers before retiring in 2022.
He returned to the city where he grew up during his father's long career that encompassed Brisbane First Grade with Valley, 62 first class matches for Queensland and 24 Tests for Australia.
Riki began umpiring in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition, complementing the earlier decision by Kepler to become a Match Referee wth Cricket Australia and thus extending the lengthy connection to cricket by the family.
A rapid ascent saw him appointed to the Queensland State & Territory Umpire Panel ahead of the 2023–24 season, where he made his First-Grade debut.
That season included appointments to the CA Under 17 Male National Championships, the WNCL, and the Weber WBBL, culminating in recognition as Queensland’s top First-Grade umpire with both the Mel Johnson Trophy and the Bruce Oxenford Award.
In 2024–25, Wessels debuted in the Toyota Second XI and officiated the CA Under 19 Male National Championships Final. He also served as a TV Umpire in the Weber WBBL and stood on-field in the Queensland Premier Cricket First-Grade Final. His outstanding contributions were recently acknowledged with Queensland Cricket’s 2024-25 Match Official of the Year award
Riki is pictured third from left at the Gabba last season, where he made his debut as the fourth umpire for the KFC BBL match between the Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers.
He was elevated recently to the Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel, promoted on the back of his performances in both Cricket Australia competitions (WBBL, WNCL, Men’s Second XI) and his appointment to the Final of the Under 19 Male National Championships in 24-25.
Cricket Australia Match Officials Manager Luke O’Brien praised Wessels' appointments:“We’re thrilled to see former elite players bring their deep understanding of cricket into the officiating arena. His debut in the One Day Cup is well-earned, and we’re confident he’ll make a strong impact on the field and serve as a role model for aspiring umpires across the country.”