Umpires Set To Soar In 2026

Congratulations to the following five umpires who have been selected to the State Umpire Panel: Simon Bussey, Benjamin Farrell, Nathan James, Michael Mellifont, and Kylie White.

The Queensland State Umpire Panel are leaders in the State’s umpiring space, officiating in various Cricket Australia competitions including Mens & Womens Second XI, WNCL, WBBL, Spring Challenge, and National Underage Championships.

Simon Bussey returns to the Queensland umpire development pathway after spending last season in Western Australia, whilst Kylie White becomes the first female appointee to the State Umpire Panel, following her strong showing in WNCL, WBBL and Premier Cricket in 2025-26. Ben Farrell, Nathan James and Michael Mellifont renew their involvement with the State Umpire Panel as they continue to perform well in both Queensland and Cricket Australia appointments. Queensland Emerging Umpire Panel member Elsie Bradford will also feature in Cricket Australia appointments this year as she builds on last year’s appointments to Cricket Australia competitions.

The Queensland Cricket Emerging Umpire Panel will consist of eight members this year - Elsie Bradford, Jack Clothier, Robert Hayter, Hamish Knowles, Jordan McManus, Lachlan Nolan, Allen Stanley, and Naveen Vinod. This group of umpires will get opportunities to perform within Queensland Premier Cricket and KFC T20 MAX, as well as participating in various development programs through the season.

The State Umpire Panel and Emerging Umpire Panel will again be under the tutelage of State Umpire Coach Peter Parker, continuing his work over the past two seasons in developing Queensland umpires towards elite performance and higher honours.

Both the South Queensland and North Queensland Country Umpire Panels have been finalised, with representative matches starting soon. There are 7 umpires in the South Panel, with Gold Coast umpire Dhiraj Ahuja making his representative debut alongside fellow Gold Coaster Peter Larter. Darling Downs has two representatives in this year’s Panel with Richard Smith and Shane Walker returning for another season, whilst the SEQ Zone’s Matt van de Werken, Jason Bennett and Peter Kleinschmidt round out the South Panel for 2026-27.

In the North there are two panels – Senior and Development – that offer umpires the opportunity to officiate top-level country cricket in the tropics. Andrew Firman, Col Morris and Bill Perry will lead the charge through their involvement with the North Senior Panel, whilst the North Development Panel has 11 members from each of the 4 zones to oversee the Second XI and Under 18 matches to be played this season.

Cricket Australia Contracted Umpire Panel members from Queensland: Donovan Koch, Stephen Dionysius, Riki Wessels

Queensland Cricket State Umpire Panel: Simon Bussey, Benjamin Farrell, Nathan James, Michael Mellifont, Kylie White

Queensland Cricket Emerging Umpire Panel: Elsie Bradford, Jack Clothier, Jordan McManus, Lachlan Nolan, Allen Stanley, Naveen Vinod

 Queensland Country Cricket Umpire Panels:

• North QLD Senior Panel: Andrew Firman, Col Morris, Bill Perry
• North QLD Development Panel: Paul Anderson, Joe Barnes, Josh Brown, Michael Bugeja, Harrison Carrara, Tim Cumming, Chakri Macha, Craig Ondarchie, Ken Probyn, Shane Rabbitt, Luke Wenitong
• South QLD Panel: Dhiraj Ahuja, Jason Bennett, Peter Kleinschmidt, Peter Larter, Richard Smith, Matt van de Werken, Shane Walker