When NZC today confirmed its top officials to control matches in the coming season, there was a new name from CD stepping up to join RICHARD HAYWARD on the country's Match Referees panel.

For the last few years Hayward, a former Nelson and Central Stags captain, has been the sole Match Referee based in our neck of the woods on the seven-member NZC Match Referees Panel, but he's delighted to now have Marlborough veteran cricketer GREG STRETCH for company.

Stretch is well known for his long involvement both on the field and behind the scenes in Marlborough Cricket, and gains his maiden panel appointment after having made his domestic match refereeing debuts in last summer's Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Plunket Shield.

It was only 10 years ago that he retired from playing senior rep and Hawke Cup cricket, having bowed out at 44 as his District Association's most experienced cricket of all time, after 28 continuous years and with a record 208 matches for Marlborough, many of them as captain.

He also represented the New Zealand Over 50s last summer.

RICHARD HAYWARD (right) oversaw last season's Dream11 Super Smash Final | PHOTOSPORT

The CD connections on the panel don't end there.

Former CENTRAL HIND (and WHITE FERN) TRUDY ANDERSON - now based in Canterbury, is back and former CD age-group rep (and BLACKCAP) SHAYNE O'CONNOR will also be overseeing Domestic matches this summer as part of the panel.

Otago-based O'Connor also joins the formal panel for the first time this season, while Hayward and Anderson are also NZC's designated International match referees.

CD Umpires GLENN WALKLIN and JOHN DEMPSEY | PHOTOSPORT

Nelson-based JOHN DEMPSEY is CD's only rep on NZC's nine-member National Umpire Panel for 2024/25.

REGAN COMBE, JIMMY ELLINGHAM, ANDREW HOLDAWAY, CHRIS JUDSON, JASON LEAHY, AJMAL MAJEED, SCOTT OLIVER and GLEN WALKLIN comprise CD's Regional Umpire Panel.

CD Scorer DUNCAN MITCHELL | PHOTOSPORT

 

With some of the best views at the ground, Manawatū's DUNCAN MITCHELL and Nelson's EUAN WEST, both return as CD's invaluable reps on the NZC National Scorers Panel for the coming season. 

Central Districts Cricket is proud to congratulate our cohort of officials on their appointments today.

Article added: Tuesday 30 July 2024