He played for the Tykes until 1997 when, after failing to establish a permanent place in the first team, he moved to Middlesex for two further seasons.

After progressing through the Yorkshire age group set up, he scored 1,258 runs in his first-class career, with one century and an average of 25.16 and took 20 catches.

He went on to stand in 4 matches at the Cricket World Cup 2011, and gained promotion to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires in May 2011.

During the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy held in England and Wales, he stood in the semi-final between Bangladesh and India at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on 15 June 2017.

Kettleborough went on to stand in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at The Oval in London on 18 June 2017.

[12] In June 2021, Kettleborough was named as the TV umpire for the 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final.