A Cardiff University medical student has become the youngest umpire in international cricket history.
Anna Harris, 22, umpired the second one day international (ODI) match between England and New Zealand on Sunday, September 19.
Miss Harris said that she has had lots of support and guidance during her umpiring journey.
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She said: “I have felt really well supported throughout my umpiring and the players and my colleagues were great. I had loads of messages of support which was awesome and I enjoyed it most of all!
“It’s funny as ICC don’t have official records but I may be the equal-youngest as Lauren Agenbag from South Africa also debuted internationally at 22. However I’ll take it. It is still a pretty cool achievement to have.”
Miss Harris, who is originally from Buckinghamshire, has played cricket since she was a child.
She said: “I got into cricket aged five. My memory of discovering cricket was a rainy day at school so they got out some plastic cricket kits and we played in the hall.
“From then on I was sold and my mum signed me up to our local club. Here we are now.”
Miss Harris started umpiring once she turned 16 after seeing her mum umpire all of her childhood fixtures. She did the umpiring course so that she could earn some money at weekends while doing something she enjoyed.
Selection for the ODI umpiring came off the back of Miss Harris’ performance in elite domestic competitions, including the new Hundred format played this summer for the first time.
Miss Harris is able to juggle her cricket responsibilities alongside her studies. She said: “Time management is key – I have to make sure I know what’s due, where I have to be, and how to cram everything in.
“It is a balancing act and sometimes you have to step back from one thing temporarily to fit other bits in but if you have a real passion for something then I believe you can always find time for it.”
Miss Harris is also the Women and Girl’s Officer for Wales Association of Cricket Officials and encourages other women and girls to start exploring the sport.
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