Youngest ever International Cricket Umpire bowled over by results

The youngest ever international cricket umpire is celebrating achieving top grades in her BTEC exams.  

Nineteen-year-old Scarlett Hale, who joined Millfield in Year 10, turned her hand to umpiring after an injury hampered her cricket ambitions.  

Scarlett’s passion for the sport was quickly recognised and she recently became the youngest ever international cricket umpire during the Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament in Rwanda, last year. She officiated eight matches during the 10-day competition including the opening and final fixture. 

Scarlett, a day student from Street, achieved a double distinction* (equivalent to 2 A*s at A level) in BTEC Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. 

She joined Millfield for its cricket facilities and range of BTEC courses. She said, “I wanted to join for quite a few years so when my parents came to the Open Day, we all loved it. We particularly loved the newly opened Cricket Centre, which blew me away. I was also keen to take a BTEC because I prefer that way of learning. When I saw that Millfield offered them as well as the cricket, I was certain that I wanted to come here. No school competes with Millfield in my opinion.”  

Scarlett first began cricket umpiring after joining the Hampshire Cricket Board’s Champions programme, where she gained experience in scoring, coaching, and umpiring. By the age of 12, she had already officiated her first game, and over the next few years, she progressed to umpire district cricket, festivals, county age groups then national finals. 

After an injury in her first year at Millfield, Scarlett decided to pursue umpiring as a way to stay connected to the sport. She said, “I got injured the year I joined Millfield and was out of play for nine months, in that time I realised that I wouldn’t make it professionally playing. I decided to continue playing cricket for the school and to pursue umpiring further with the support of the Millfield cricket department.”

Scarlett has enjoyed her time on the Millfield cricket programme and hopes to return to coach in the future. She said, “The cricket department as a whole has been incredible and particularly the girls’ team. No matter the year group, we are all very good friends. I also feel I have really good relationships with the coaches, and I can go to them with anything. I will really miss it when I leave. I’m hoping that I can come back to visit and help with coaching in the future.”

Alongside cricket, Scarlett has enjoyed trying out new sports at school. She said, “I have enjoyed climbing since I was ten years old, and I have been able to mix with people in my year group that usually I wouldn’t mix with.” 

After Millfield, Scarlett will embark on an adventure in Australia to umpire for a season, followed by a season in the UK where she hopes to secure a professional umpiring contract. The next year, Scarlett will travel to New Zealand to umpire again, all while continuing to coach and play on the side.