New Zealand umpire Kathy Cross achieved a new milestone in the men's game during the Second Test between the New Zealand men and England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington in March. The 44 year-old from Hutt Valley was appointed as fourth umpire for the Test, the first time that a woman has been included among the umpiring team for a men's international cricket match.
Although the fourth umpire's role is essentially a standby role, Cross would have stepped up into the third umpire's TV adjudication role if any one of on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Steve Dunne or video ump Evan Watkin had become indisposed.
Cross has yet to officiate in a men's first-class fixture in New Zealand, however stood as the only female umpire at the 2000 Women's World Cup, and has frequently umpired women's provincial matches, as well as men's senior grade games.