Umpire (cricket) Totally Explained

Everything about Umpire Cricket totally explained

An umpire in cricket (from the Old French Nompere meaning not equal, for example not a member of one of the teams, impartial) is a person who has the authority to make decisions on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket. Besides making decisions about legality of delivery, appeals for wickets and general conduct of the game in legal manner, the umpire also keeps a record of the deliveries and announces the completion of an over.

Overview

Traditionally, cricket matches have two umpires on the field, one standing at the end where the bowler delivers the ball (Bowler's end), and one directly opposite the facing batsman (usually, but not always, at square leg). However, in the modern game, there may be more than two umpires; for example Test Matches have four: two on-field umpires, a third umpire who has access to video replays, and a fourth umpire who looks after the match balls, takes out the drinks for the on-field umpires, and also arranges travel and meals for all of the umpires.
   Professional matches also have a match referee, who complements the role of the umpires. The match referee makes no decisions relevant to the outcome of the game, but instead enforces the ICC Cricket Code of Conduct, ensuring the game is played in a reputable manner.
   The ICC now has two panels of umpires: namely the 10-man Elite Panel (two of which are, in theory, appointed to each Test Match) and a larger 20-man International Panel.
   Minor cricket matches will often have trained umpires. The independent Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACU&S), formed in 1955, used to conduct umpire training within the UK. However, following a ballot of its members, it was taken over by a new organisation, the ECB Association of Cricket Officials (ECB ACO) on 1 January 2008. The ECB ACO has yet to finalise its plans for future umpire and scorer training and examination with the UK. Cricket Australia has introduced a two-tier accreditation scheme and eventually all umpires will be required to achieve the appropriate level of accreditation. The ages of umpires can vary enormously as some are former players, while others enter the cricketing world as umpires. Physical disability need not necessarily be a barrier - in Victoria a 19 year old with cerebral palsy has achieved the national Level 2 accreditation, is umpiring in a country competition, has umpired a statewide carnival, and has been recognised for his achievement by Cricket Victoria. The youngest umpire to achieve Level 2 Accreditation was a 16 year old male West Australian, now umpiring second grade cricket.
   Nevertheless, in accordance with the tradition of cricket, most ordinary, local games will have two umpires, one supplied by each side, who will fairly enforce the accepted rules.

Positions

When a ball is being bowled, one umpire (the bowler's end umpire) stands behind the stumps at the non-striker's end (that is, the end from which the ball is being bowled), which gives him a view straight down the pitch.
   The second (the striker's end umpire) takes the position that he feels gives him the best view of the play. Through long tradition, this is usually square leg - in line with the stumps and a few yards to the batsman's leg side - hence he's sometimes known as the square leg umpire.
   However, if a fielder takes up position at square leg or somewhere so as to block his view, or if there's an injured batsman with a runner, then the umpire must move somewhere else - typically either a short distance or to point on the opposite side of the batsman. If the square-leg umpire elects to stand at point, then common practice is to inform both the batsmen, the captain of the fielding team, and his colleague.
   It is up to the umpires to keep out of the way of both the ball and the players. In particular, if the ball is hit and the players attempt a run, then the umpire behind the stumps will generally retreat to the side, in case the fielding side attempts a run out at that end.
   At the end of each over, the two umpires will exchange roles. Because the bowlers end alternates between overs, this means they only move a short distance.
   For certain decisions during a match, the on-field umpire may refer to the Third Umpire if there's one appointed, who has access to television replays. The Third Umpire is most often used in the case of run-outs, where the action is too fast for the naked eye but can be also used to decide the cases of disputed boundaries and catches, when the umpires can't decide if the ball has struck the ground before being caught (but not to decide whether or not the ball in fact struck the bat or gloves of a batsman). Third Umpire referrals for LBW dismissals have also been trialled in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy is Sri Lanka, and in the 2007 English Domestic Pro40 competition, but are not currently permitted in international matches. However, some experts have pushed for the introduction of LBW referrals since the advent of Hawk-Eye technology.

Decisions and signals

During play, the umpire at the bowler's end makes the decisions, which he mainly indicates using arm movements. Some decisions must be instantaneous, whereas for others he may pause to think or discuss it with the square leg umpire, especially if the latter may have had a better view.

When the ball is in play

These decisions have an important effect on the play and are signalled straight away.

Out

An umpire won't give a batsman out unless an appeal is made by the fielding side, though a batsman may walk if he knows himself to be out. This is nowadays rare, especially in Tests and first-class matches for contentious decisions; however, it's the norm for a batsman to walk when he's out bowled. If the fielding side believes a batsman is out, the fielding side must appeal, by asking "How's that?" or "How was he?", (or by any other means that either umpire deems as a method of appealing.)
The umpire's response is either to raise his index finger above his head to indicate that the batsman is out, or to clearly say "not out", which is usually accompanied with a shake of the head. (See BBC Sport

). The 'out' signal is the only signal that the scorer doesn't have to acknowledge.

No-ball

Either umpire may call, and signal, No Ball, for a ball which is illegally delivered (bowled), although each umpire has unique jurisdictions. The most usual causes for No Balls are foot faults or a ball passing above a batsmen's head, each of these being under the bowler's end umpire's jurisdiction. The square-leg umpire will rarely have to call a No Ball, as his jurisdiction is limited to infringements which very rarely occur. The signal is to hold one arm out horizontally and shout "no-ball" ; the idea being that the batsman is aware of the no-ball being bowled. BBC Sport

. The no-ball doesn't count as one of the six in the over, and severely reduces the ways in which a batsmen may be out (from 11 to 5), with the most common forms of dismissal all being removed, except for Run Out. The batsman may attempt to score runs from the 'extra' ball, however. It may also be a no-ball if the umpire feels that the bowlers arm is bent more than 15 degrees.(Throwing rather than bowling.)

Wide

A Wide Ball is the term used to describe an illegal delivery in cricket, which is illegal due to it being "wide of the striker where he's standing and would also have passed wide of him standing in a normal guard position." (Law 25) A wide signalled by extending both arms out horizontally and is accompanied by a call of Wide Ball. It doesn't count in the over, and again reduces the way in which a batsmen can be out (from 11 to 6). If a delivery satisfies the criteria for both a No Ball and a Wide, the call and penalty of No Ball will take precedence, and so the delivery will be regarded as a No Ball, despite the fact that it may meet all criteria for a Wide Ball.

Dead ball

If the ball is no-longer considered in play, it's a dead ball. An umpire will signal this, by crossing and uncrossing his wrists below his waist with the call Dead Ball, if he's required to do so under certain Laws, and also may do it if he thinks it's necessary to inform the players. See BBC Sport

Signals to scorers

It is important that the scorers note down the play accurately and therefore the appropriate signals will be made by the umpire when the ball is dead. In addition to the following, the umpire repeats signals of dead ball, wide, and no-ball to the scorers.

Four

If a batsman scores four by hitting the ball across the boundary (not by actually running them), the umpire signals this by waving his arm back and forth in front of the chest. This signal varies a lot between umpires, from two short, restrained, waves finishing with the arm across the chest, to elaborate signals that resemble those of a conductor of an orchestra. See BBC Sport

. Whichever way the umpire signals a four he must, by law, finish with his arm across the chest (so as to avoid confusion about whether a No Ball was delivered as well).

Six

A six scored by hitting the ball over the boundary is signalled by the umpire raising both hands above his head, often in a celebratory manner. See BBC Sport

. It must be emphasised that for a six to be scored the ball must come off the bat, so it's impossible to have six byes for a ball crossing the boundary (without there being overthrows).

Bye

If runs are to be scored as byes, the umpire will hold up one open palm above the head. See BBC Sport

Leg bye

Leg byes are signalled by the umpire touching a raised knee. See BBC Sport

Short run

If one of the batsman turns to complete runs after the first without grounding his person or equipment behind the popping crease, then a short run is signalled by the umpire tapping his near shoulder with his fingers and the short runs are not scored. If more than one run is short, the umpire will inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored. See BBC Sport

. There is also a case of deliberate short running, where the umpire will disallow all runs, although this is a rather rare occurrence.

Television replay

If the umpire is unsure of a "line decision," that is, a run out or stumped decision, or if the umpire is unsure that the ball is a four, six, or neither, he may refer the matter to the Third Umpire. The umpires may additionally refer decisions to the Third Umpire regarding Bump Balls and catches being taken cleanly (but only after the on-field umpires have consulted and both were unsighted). The Third Umpire isn't used except in international or important domestic matches. The signal to refer a matter is using both hands to mime a TV screen by making a box shape. See BBC Sport

Penalty runs

For extreme misconduct by one team, the umpire may award five penalty runs to the other team. Placing one arm on the opposite shoulder indicates that the penalty run are awarded to the fielding team, but if the umpire taps that shoulder, the penalties are awarded to the batting team. See BBC Sport

Last hour

In Test cricket and first class cricket, the last hour of the last day of play has special significance. Firstly, there's a minimum number of overs (20 in the Laws of Cricket, fifteen in Tests) that must be bowled in the last hour. The umpire signals the last hour by pointing to his wrist (and the watch on it), which is raised above his head. See BBC Sport

Revoke last signal

If the umpire makes an incorrect signal, he may revoke it. The cancellation is made if the umpire finds the wrong of application of the laws, such as, signalling "out" but then realizing that the other umpire signalled a no-ball. Also, an umpire may revoke if he accidentally signals a four though he intended to signal six. See BBC Sport

New Ball

In matches lasting more than two days the captain usually has the option of a new ball set number of overs (usually 80). The umpire at the bowler's end signals to the scorers that a new ball has been taken by holding the ball above his head. The scorers note the time that the new ball has been taken.
If the ball is damaged to the extent that it gives either team a disadvantage, it's replaced by a ball in similar condition (except not damaged). In 2007 the ICC brought in a new law stipulating that, in One Day Internationals, after 35 overs have been bowled the ball must be replaced by a clean, used ball. The balls used in One Day Internationals are white, and become discoloured very easily, especially on dusty or abrasive pitches, and thus the ball change is deemed necessary to ensure that the ball is easily visible. See (External Link

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