RateTheRef

Just seen on social media that long serving ECB umpire Neil Bainton has retired to take up a new role as ECB professional umpires manager.

Here is the link for the job that was advertised: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/ulsp25aabj

Looks like it will be to oversee the appointments, progression, coaching, assessing and pathways of umpires in both the men’s and women’s game.

NZ v Australia 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui

On field: Brown and Haig
TV: Knights
4th: Black
Referee: Prakash Bhatt (International Panel of Referees, India)

A rather left field appointment for match referee, good to see the opportunities being spread out as with the umpires though

Neither David Boon or Chris Broad were replaced when they stepped down over the last couple of years so I guess they need to start looking at other options, particularly when quite a few of the Match referee’s have received quite recent appointments.

21st September 2025

Final (League One):

Hampshire Vs Lancashire (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Umpires: Surendiran Shanmugam and Gabi Brown
Match Referee: Dean Cosker

16th September 2025

Semi-final (League One):

Hampshire Vs Surrey (Utilita Bowl, Southampton)
Umpires: Rob White and Gabi Brown
Match Referee: Alec Swann

15th-18th September 2025

Division One:

Durham Vs Worcestershire
Umpires: Rob Bailey and Richard Kettleborough
Match Referee: Dean Cosker

Somerset Vs Hampshire
Umpires: Ben Debenham and David Millns
Match Referee: Peter Such

Surrey Vs Nottinghamshire
Umpires: Ian Blackwell and Nigel Llong
Match Referee: Mike Smith

Sussex Vs Yorkshire
Umpires: Tom Lungley and Jack Shantry
Match Referee: Will Smith

Warwickshire Vs Essex
Umpires: Peter Hartley and Mark Newell
Match Referee: Jason Swift

Division Two:

Derbyshire Vs Glamorgan
Umpires: Steve O'Shaughnessy and Surendiran Shanmugam
Match Referee: Simon Hinks

Gloucestershire Vs Northamptonshire
Umpires: Paul Baldwin and James Tredwell
Match Referee: Wayne Noon

Lancashire Vs Middlesex
Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Chris Watts
Match Referee: James Whitaker

Leicestershire Vs Kent 
Umpires: Hassan Adnan and Simon Widdup
Match Referee: Phil Whitticase

13th September 2025

T20 Finals Day (Edgbaston)

Semi-finals:

Lancashire Vs Somerset
Umpires: Michael Gough and James Middlebrook
Third Umpire: Sue Redfern
Fourth Umpire: Tom Lungley
Match Referee: Will Smith

Northamptonshire Vs Hampshire
Umpires: Tom Lungley and Rob White
Third Umpire: Ian Blackwell
Fourth Umpire: Mark Newell
Match Referee: Will Smith

Final:

Somerset Vs Hampshire
Umpires: Michael Gough and James Middlebrook
Third Umpire: Sue Redfern
Fourth Umpire: Rob White
Match Referee: Will Smith

For reference, the on-field umpires for Finals Day last year were: O’Shaughnessy, Lloyd, Debenham, Pollard and Middlebrook. Paul Baldwin was on Third Umpire duties only. The final went to Lloyd and O’Shaughnessy.

8th-11th September 2025

Division One:

Essex Vs Durham
Umpires: Ian Blackwell and James Middlebrook
Match Referee: Phil Whitticase

Somerset Vs Yorkshire
Umpires: Rob Bailey and Mark Newell
Match Referee: Steve Davis

Surrey Vs Warwickshire 
Umpires: Michael Gough and Jack Shantry
Match Referee: Will Smith

Sussex Vs Hampshire
Umpires: Nigel Llong and Rob White
Match Referee: Simon Hinks

Worcestershire Vs Nottinghamshire
Umpires: Ben Debenham and Tom Lungley
Match Referee: Mike Smith

Division Two:

Kent Vs Lancashire
Umpires: Ant Harris and Surendiran Shanmugam
Match Referee: Ian Herbert

Leicestershire Vs Gloucestershire
Umpires: Hassan Adnan and Paul Baldwin
Match Referee: Dean Cosker

Middlesex Vs Derbyshire (Lord's)
Umpires: Peter Hartley and James Tredwell
Match Referee: Wayne Noon

Northamptonshire Vs Glamorgan
Umpires: Neil Pratt and Chris Watts
Match Referee: Peter Such