Leading Queensland umpire Donovan Koch has added to his distinguished career record, making his Women’s Test Match Umpiring debut today in the one-off Test between Australia and India at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Donovan Debuts In The West
Koch’s appointment marks the latest milestone in a distinguished journey through both playing and officiating ranks.
After a successful playing career that included 21 First-Class and 20 List-A matches, he began umpiring in the United Kingdom before relocating to Australia in 2012. He progressed rapidly through Queensland Premier Cricket and the national high-performance pathway, earning selection to the former CA Development Umpire Panel ahead of the 2016–17 season.
The 2017–18 season proved pivotal, with Koch making his List-A, First-Class and BBL debuts within three months. Since then, he has stood in 45 First-Class matches, including two Sheffield Shield Finals, 28 Domestic List-A matches, including one Domestic One Day Cup Final, and 68 BBL matches, including two BBL Finals.
Koch made his Women’s T20 International debut in January 2020 during the Tri-Series at Junction Oval and has since officiated in seven WT20Is. He later debuted in Women’s One Day Internationals during Australia’s series against New Zealand at Allan Border Field and has now stood in seven WODIs.
Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Koch was appointed to the ICC International Panel of Umpires, leading to his Men’s T20 International debut at the SCG and his Men’s ODI debut in Townsville. His international experience continued to grow with appointments to the 2024 ICC Under 19 World Cup—where he officiated the Semi-Final between South Africa and India—and most recently to the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Cricket Australia’s Match Officials Manager, Luke O’Brien, said Donovan’s debut reflects years of dedication and excellence. “Donovan’s debut in Women’s Test cricket is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of his professionalism, consistency and commitment to the game. He has worked incredibly hard over many years, and this appointment is richly deserved,”
O’Brien added that Koch’s rise highlights the strength of Australia’s umpire development system. “Donovan’s journey through domestic and international cricket shows the strength of our umpire development pathways and the opportunities available to those who dedicate themselves to continuous improvement. We’re thrilled to see him take this next step on the world stage.”