Brathwaite calls time on umpiring career

Veteran Barbadian umpire Gregory Brathwaite has officially retired from the international stage, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated career that spanned more than a decade.

The 55-year-old confirmed his decision last month, notifying both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) of his retirement, which became effective on September 30.

Brathwaite’s career was marked by several significant milestones. He stood on the field in eight Test matches and served as the television umpire in a further six.

A crowning moment of his time in the sport was his role as an on-field official in the thrilling ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017, where England clinched a dramatic victory over India.

In a reflection on his decision, Brathwaite revealed that the choice was a carefully considered one, made after consulting with his family.

“I just thought that the time has come for me to seriously sit and have a look at where I am based on my age, and whether or not the time has come to allow somebody younger to have an opportunity to excel beyond where I have been.”

He expressed profound satisfaction with his accomplishments, especially given that his journey into umpiring was entirely unplanned.

“I’m very happy with what I was able to achieve, having started a journey that I didn’t plan. Umpiring was never on my radar,” Brathwaite explained. “And to have reached the level of crossing all formats on the field, ODIs, T20S, Test match cricket, I think that in itself is a really great achievement for someone who didn’t set out to umpire initially.”

Brathwaite’s retirement marks the departure of a respected figure from the elite panel, an official who rose from an unexpected beginning to preside over the sport’s biggest stages.

(CMC)