Barbadian Brathwaite earmarked for Tests soon

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC):

Well-travelled Barbadian umpire Gregory Brathwaite has been tipped to become the next Test umpire from the region.

WEST INDIES Cricket Umpires Association secretary, Vivian Johnson, said the 50-year-old Brathwaite was currently among a group of officials on an “emerging panel” of international umpires soon expected to graduate to the longest format.

“Based on reports, Gregory is in what we would call the ‘emerging panel’ of the international panel of umpires,” Johnson said.

“We have four members on that panel – the international panel – and he is integrated into the emerging panel. That means he is being earmarked for Test cricket in the future. That’s where they move from; it is on that level.”

Brathwaite has already stood in 44 One-Day Internationals, the last coming on England’s high-profile tour of South Africa last February, and has also officiated in 28 T20 Internationals.

Brathwaite is one of four Caribbean umpires on the ICC International Panel, alongside fellow countryman Leslie Reifer, Guyanese Nigel Duguid and Jamaican Patrick Gustard.

Currently, Trinidadian Joel Wilson is the only regional official on the ICC’s Elite Panel, having already stood in 19 Tests, including two of the five high-profile Ashes Tests last summer.

Johnson said Gustard, Duguid and Reifer were also making strides, along with woman umpire Jacqueline Williams – a 44-year-old Jamaican who made her international debut last year and had already stood in five ODIs involving associate nations.