A first for Premier Cricket

A part of Cricket Victoria’s exchange program with the Auckland Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (ACUSA), Venter will make history when she officiates in the Monash Tigers and Greenvale Kangaroos fixture at Central Reserve North.

“It’s a significant milestone for Premier Cricket and a great initiative from our umpire department,” Cricket Victoria Premier Cricket Strategy and Development Manager Mike Ronchi said.

“Diana has a wealth of umpiring experience and is a Level 4 accredited umpire at New Zealand Cricket.

“We hope she enjoys the experience.”

With 15 years of umpiring experience, Venter noted that she is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m super excited about it,” Venter said.

“When I cross that boundary I’ll just be an umpire doing my job, applying the laws.”

Venter first got involved in the game in her home country South Africa.

In 1999, she moved to Finland where she joined a local club to play before moving into coaching and umpiring.
While in Finland, she umpired in three European tournaments in Italy, France and Slovenia.

Venter was also a Board Member of the New Zealand Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association for five years (2008-12).

In the future, Venter hopes that she can one day join the Official Panel in New Zealand as well as the ICC Umpiring Reserve Panel.

Also on exchange is David Henderson, who follows in the footsteps of his father, who went on exchange in 2008, becoming the first father/son combination to participate in the program.

Coming from the Canterbury Regional Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association, Henderson will officiate in the Footscray Edgewater and Hawthorn Monash encounter on the weekend.

From a player to an umpire, the Level 4 umpire is also looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone,” Henderson said.

“Umpiring at Christchurch everything is familiar and you know the players so hopefully we’ll learn something new.”

The exchange program first started in 1991-92 with 11 Victorians from the program umpiring at first-class level and nine from New Zealand, including Billy Bowden.