Tasmania’s Amey Jambekar has been named Cricket Australia’s Community Match Official of the Year, recognised not just for his skill with the bat and ball but for his tireless efforts as a coach, administrator and umpire.
From his cricket-loving childhood in India to championing grassroots cricket in Australia, Jambekar’s journey is one of passion, service and commitment. He recalls:
“I started playing cricket at a very young age.”
After moving to Australia in 2006, he joined St Virgil’s Cricket Club in the Old Scholars Competition, which later merged with the Southern Cricket Association. In 2011, he moved to Blackmans Bay District Cricket Club, where he still plays today.
His contributions to the game go far beyond the pitch. In 2021, Jambekar joined the board of the Huon Channel Cricket Association (HCCA) and now serves as its treasurer. That same year, he began umpiring to address a shortage of officials.
“There was a shortage of umpires, and I had some spare time,” he explains.
“It felt like the right thing to do. Plus, it gave me a chance to see how challenging umpiring really is. As players, it’s easy to criticise decisions, but when you’re the one making them, you realise how tough it is.”
Since then, he has officiated in A, B, C, and Women’s competitions under the HCCA. He also coaches the Summerleas Eagles Women’s team, a position he has held for the past two seasons. Jambekar says:
“In Women’s cricket, it’s especially rewarding to help players understand the game and support its growth.”
He credits mentors Marcus Newman and Andrew Main, along with Cricket Tasmania’s training programs, for sharpening his umpiring skills.
Jambekar now urges other cricket lovers to consider donning the umpire’s hat.
“It’s a thankless job, but it gives you a whole new perspective. When it’s one or two umpires against 22 players, you really understand the pressure. I think every player and coach should give it a go—it helps the game and the community.”
With national honours now under his belt, Jambekar’s story is a powerful reminder that cricket’s true champions don’t always make the headlines—they make a difference.
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