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PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association (JCUA), Norman Malcolm, believes that Jamaican female umpire, Jacqueline Williams, the lone West Indian match official (umpire) at the 2022 ICC women’s Cricket World Cup currently on in New Zealand, is on the way to becoming the first female umpire in a Test cricket match.
Malcolm pointed out that Williams already has a track record of historic achievements in the sport and that inevitably, she will get her chance in the Test arena.
Williams was the first female to officiate in the regional 50-over competition, the first to officiate in ICC World Cricket League Division Four and Five tournaments, and was one of two females to first umpire a men’s match in an ICC tournament (Champions Trophy) in 2017.
In 2020, she became the first woman to officiate as a third umpire in a men’s T20I in a game between West Indies and Ireland.
With this and a whole lot of other individual achievements behind her, Malcolm strongly believes that Williams is on a trajectory to break a 140-year tradition of only male umpires in Test cricket.
“I believe Jacqueline Williams is going to set some record. She will be the first female to do a Test match,” Malcolm stated.
“When you look at the trend and what is happening, she is heading in that direction. She has taken her work seriously, and she is on top of her game in terms of the rules and the changes taking place,” he told The Gleaner.
He said her performances at the international level over the last few years have elevated her to that of an elite international umpire and that this should serve as motivation to other local females who want to pursue an umpiring career.
INSPIRATION
“What she is doing augers well for women in her field, and we will definitely see the impact locally. She has really inspired them, and people are saying that if Jackie can do it, they can do it, too.
“Jackie has demonstrated that females can be equal with men and do a good a job as they are,” he said.
Former Jamaican female cricketer and now a chief West Indies women’s selector and Melbourne women’s cricket team manager, Dorothy Hobson, praised Williams’ dedication and what she has been able to achieve in what is largely considered a man’s field.
However, she believes that local women continue to be overlooked in both coaching and umpiring and demands a change.
She also thinks more can be done to publicise courses and workshops and to encourage females to get involved.
“They have to be encouraged. There are women who are qualified, and when they are having courses, the umpire association should reach out. They need to reach out to the women who are interested and put out notices that they are looking for female umpires and coaches,” she said.
“Jackie has been doing well in international cricket. She always gets recalled, especially for the ladies, and she has done some men’s international cricket as well.
“She’s doing really well (World Cup). She has been spot on, and I am very impressed. But if you are good, you are good, and if you have the ability, you have the ability.
“You will never know who is going to be on top until you have run the course. So the ladies need to have an opportunity, or they will not be able to do it,” she argued.
Malcolm and acting vice-principal of G.C. Foster College, Gibbs Williams, insists that more women are getting involved and point to the JCUA’s partnership with the Spanish Town-based institution and the increased participation of women in cricket courses.
“At G.C. Foster, we have been involved with training some new female umpires. We have a lot of interest in the females because there is a shortage of females umpires.
“Jackie’s presence demonstrates that females can be even more successful than some of our males, and that is why she was a part of the G.C. Foster training programme, to inspire the others,” Malcolm pointed.
Gibbs Williams, also a national youth cricket team manager, revealed that the JCUA did a recruitment drive targeting students at the college and that nearly half of the cohort was female.
“We were so excited because these ladies are specialists in cricket. A number of them were successful and have already started their development.
“Jacqueline Williams was one of the presenters because the aim is to find the next Jacqueline Williams on the international scene.
“We are happy to partner with the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association. The sky’s the limit, it is for the powers that be to provide the raw material for females students who are interested, and the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association will train them,” said Gibbs Williams.
Jacqueline Williams has done four games so far at the women’s World Cup and is scheduled to do the final game of the group stage between India and South Africa on Sunday.
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com
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