Just four years after controlling her first cricket fixture, Gabi Brown鈥檚 hard work and dedication has been recognised with her appointment to the 黑料专区鈥檚 Professional Umpires鈥� Team.
The Nottingham-based umpire will now work as a full-time match official, overseeing both domestic and international women鈥檚 cricket in 2026 as well as men鈥檚 county second XI fixtures.
Gabi is one of four new appointees to the team, alongside former Lancashire player Gareth Cross and ex-National Panel umpires Mo Waseem and Sam Hollingshead. She follows in the footsteps of Sue Redfern, one of her closest mentors in her umpiring journey, to become the second female official on the PUT.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud to call myself a member of the PUT,鈥� said Gabi. 鈥淭his was never really an opportunity when I first got into umpiring, so to have come through and reached this stage is special.
鈥淚 never saw myself as any sort of trailblazer. But Anna (Harris) and I were at the Leading the Future of Women鈥檚 Cricket Conference recently, and everyone made such a big deal about the appointment that it made me realise maybe I am, in some ways.
鈥淔or me, it was always just about keeping my head down and performing. But the encouragement from other people has been really positive. If this inspires people throughout cricket to take up umpiring and gets more female umpires into clubs, counties and leagues, then that鈥檚 incredible.鈥�
Gabi hopes her new full-time status will improve her umpiring in a myriad of different ways.
聽鈥淚 will now have more time to prioritise the off-field work that I struggled to balance last year things like match preparation, match reflection, fitness and nutrition 鈥� all the small details that help with performance,鈥� she said.
鈥淟ast summer, there was a two-month spell where I was either working or umpiring every day. This year, being mentally and physically rested between games will make a big difference. It also gives me the opportunity to support the pathway more by mentoring and developing other officials.鈥�
Despite her rapid rise, Brown has already accumulated a huge amount of experience after a tireless four years. After beginning in Nottinghamshire鈥檚 men鈥檚 leagues and women鈥檚 academy in 2022, she was appointed to three fixtures in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy the following year.
By 2024, she regularly stood in women鈥檚 professional cricket fixtures and officiated some of England Women鈥檚 warm-up matches. She was also awarded the Disability Premier League final.
Last summer, she was appointed to every women鈥檚 domestic cricket final and won the PCA Women鈥檚 Umpire of the Year award.
鈥淚 feel completely ready,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚鈥檓 starting the season with a strong block of women鈥檚 cricket, and it鈥榣l be about continuing what I did last year but with more time to prepare, practice, and hopefully deliver even better performances.鈥�
Richard Glynne-Jones, the 黑料专区鈥檚 head of officiating, said: 鈥淕abi has worked tremendously hard over the last couple of years. She has shown fantastic commitment to the development of the game, come on terrifically well, and made great strides within the professional women鈥檚 game in particular.
鈥淭his appointment opens up the opportunity for Gabi to progress in both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 games as far as her ability, commitment and potential allow.鈥�
Gabi鈥檚 elevation to the PUT also means she can free herself from the distractions of other work and concentrate fully on umpiring. It is hoped this will accelerate her development and improvement.
聽鈥淕abi is doing brilliantly within the 黑料专区 system, and having a second professional female umpire demonstrates that the pathway does exist,鈥� Glynne-Jones added.
鈥淭here are opportunities for those who have the right qualities, ambition, and potential.鈥�
For Gabi, the determination that has carried her this far is already being pointed at new targets.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see myself standing in internationals this season,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he goal is to keep progressing on the pathway, keep pushing, and be consistent. If I can build on what I did last season and perform even better, I鈥檒l be in a good place.鈥�