A TEENAGER who started her career at Basingstoke Cricket Club is on the way to becoming a professional umpire after being given a place on the ECB’s talent pathway.

Scarlett Hale was eight-years-old when she began playing cricket, developing a love for the game after a coach came to her school to introduce her and her classmates to the sport.

A talented player, she soon began playing with Basingstoke Cricket Club, and from there quickly progressed to Hampshire Cricket Board’s regional performance centre, and then age-group county cricket with Hampshire.

Encouraged to join a girls’ leaders programme run by Hampshire Cricket Board, called Girls’ Champions, Hale was given access to a range of different opportunities within the game – and it was then she discovered a real passion for umpiring.

She officiated her first game of cricket when she was just 12.

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Hale, now 18, said: “We went on female-only coaching, umpiring, and scoring courses that were set up by Hampshire Cricket Board. These allowed us to try different roles in the game and I gravitated towards umpiring.

“I was then given the chance to officiate in regional performance centre matches and cricket festivals, as well as under-11 county cricket.

“It took me a few years to get my head around everything that is involved in umpiring, but I have developed my skillset over the years. The support I had was great.”

Hale has now been officiating for six years and at 18 became the youngest umpire to make their international debut when she umpired Botswana against Rwanda in the 2023 Kwibuka Women’s T20 International Tournament at the Gahanga Stadium in Kigali, an opportunity which came about after she visited Rwanda in February.

The trip also saw her coaching and mentoring dozens of local women and girls and helping launch a new cricket academy.

Since returning to Hampshire, Hale’s talent as an umpire and commitment to the sport has been rewarded with a coveted place on the ECB’s talent pathway, meaning she will now benefit from additional coaching and opportunities.

Her long-term goal is to secure a place on the professional umpire team and umpire Test matches and international white ball games.

“I really enjoy the challenge,” Hale said as she discussed the barriers she faced in her way. “You are in control of the game and faced with something different each time you umpire – and unlike when playing, I am involved in the whole game.

“One of the most challenging things has been my age; being so young and officiating at bigger games players tend to look at me and don’t think I am an umpire or think I lack experience.

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“When I get on the pitch the first few overs players are watching me closely, but after they realise I know what I am doing they move on.

“I’m grateful to everyone at Hampshire Cricket Board. They have allowed me to do more than just play cricket; they provided me with opportunities in umpiring, coaching, and scoring and I have a great support network.

“Cricket has opened up so many opportunities for me.”

For more information on the Girls’ Champions programme, or other opportunities for women and girls offered by Hampshire Cricket Board, visit ageasbowl.com.