Umpires and Decisions

The umpire at the bowler's end moves to square leg for the next over and back again, so each covers both positions.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

The Laws make the umpires the sole judges of fair and unfair play from first ball to last.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

The umpires are the sole judges of whether the ground, weather or light make it dangerous or unreasonable to play.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

An umpire is allowed to reverse a decision provided he does so promptly, before play has effectively moved on.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

Each umpire answers the appeals and makes the calls for the events he is responsible for; neither overrides the other's proper decision.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

The umpires check the pitch, creases, wickets, boundaries and the ball before they let the match begin.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

The umpires agree how many balls have gone; a miscount does not mean the over begins again.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

Dissent at a decision is a conduct offence the umpires can act on, with warnings and penalty runs.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 42 · applied

An appeal must come before the call of Time; after that the chance to appeal for anything in that session has gone.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · recall

Suspending play for dangerous or unreasonable conditions is entirely the umpires' decision, whatever the sides want.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

That gesture signals a short run, made when a batter turns for another run without grounding bat or person behind the crease.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

Out is given by raising one index finger above the head; if the batter stays, the striker's-end umpire says "not out".

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

Repeated tapping of one shoulder signals five penalty runs to the batting side, most often for illegal fielding.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

A hand simply rested on the opposite shoulder signals five penalty runs to the fielding side, for a batting-side offence.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

The umpire raises the ball above the head to signal that the fielding side has taken the new ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

That gesture tells the players and scorers that the last hour of the day's play has begun.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

Each signal to the scorers has to be separately acknowledged by a scorer before the umpire allows play to continue.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

In-play calls such as no-ball are made at once, but signals to the scorers are given when the ball is dead.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

The short run is signalled by the umpire at the end where the batter failed to make good his ground.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

Both a player review and an umpire referral are shown by the umpire drawing the outline of a TV screen in the air.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

Without an actual appeal the umpire has no power to give the batter out, however clear the catch looked.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

"How's that?", often run together as "Howzat", is the usual appeal, though any words that pose the question will do.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · recall

An appeal must be made before the bowler begins his run-up for the next ball, or (at the end of an over) before Time is called; a ball later it is too late.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

An appeal is a general "how is that?", so the umpire may give the batter out by any mode the same delivery supports.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

Stumpings, hit wicket and run outs at the striker's end are for the square-leg umpire; the bowler's-end umpire should leave them.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

Once an event has been decided, appealing again for the same thing changes nothing and the umpire disregards it.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

Umpires are encouraged to consult each other where one of them had a clearer sight of the relevant moment.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

The fielding captain can withdraw an appeal, and so recall a dismissed batter, with the umpire's consent, before the next delivery is bowled.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

Walking is entirely the batter's choice; the Laws neither require it nor forbid waiting to be given out.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · recall

Not out is a full decision; short of a review where one is available, the players have to accept it and get on with the game.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 31 · applied

DRS applies only when it has been adopted in the playing conditions for that particular series or tournament.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

There is a short window to ask for a review, made by the captain or the dismissed batter signalling a T.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

A side can keep reviewing until it runs out of its allowance of unsuccessful reviews; a successful one is not deducted.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

The figure has moved between revisions and differs by format, so it is the principle that is taught, not a set number.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

Test cricket gives a side more unsuccessful reviews per innings than the limited-overs formats do.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

Clear evidence that the original decision was wrong, here an inside edge, means the on-field decision is overturned.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

Without clear evidence to overturn it, the umpire's original call is upheld.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

On "umpire's call" the on-field decision is kept, and under current conditions the reviewing side does not lose the review.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

The tight limit is there so a review is the players' own instant judgement, not a message relayed from the balcony.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

Once the allowance of failed reviews is gone, the side cannot review again until its next innings.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

The three checks are pitching, impact, and whether the ball was going on to hit the wicket.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

A ball that pitches outside leg stump cannot bring an lbw, regardless of the impact or the projected path.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

Where ball-tracking is within its margin of error, the on-field decision, out or not out, is retained.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

With ball-tracking on umpire's call, the on-field decision stands, and here that decision was out.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

An inside edge onto the pad is a plain fact, not a margin, and conclusive bat-first contact makes it not out lbw.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

Impact outside off stump lets the batter off only when he offered a real shot; playing no stroke takes that protection away.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 36 · recall

When every element of the review is conclusively out, the on-field not-out is overturned and the batter given out.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

The umpire's-call zone for hitting the wicket is the stumps and bails with a set margin around them.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

A review made inside the time limit that then fails on clear evidence costs the side one of its unsuccessful reviews.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · applied

The system projects the onward path from the data up to impact, and that projection carries a margin, which is the reason umpire's call exists.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS) · recall

Run-outs and stumpings referred to the television umpire are decided by him from the replays.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (third umpire) · recall

Under current playing conditions the third umpire watches the front-foot landing on every ball and relays any no-ball to the middle.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (front-foot no-ball technology) · recall

The ICC dropped the soft signal in June 2023, so a referred catch now goes up without any on-field call attached to it.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (June 2023) · recall

A referred catch often looked inconclusive on replay, and the clear-evidence burden meant the soft signal was rarely overturned.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

With no soft signal to fall back on, the third umpire now reaches his own decision on the available evidence.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (June 2023) · applied

The fourth umpire manages the spare-ball box, logistics and twelfth-man liaison, and is a reserve official on hand if someone cannot continue.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (match officials) · recall

The referee deals with Code of Conduct matters, over-rate penalties and player discipline, but plays no part in on-field decisions.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (match referee) · recall

On-field umpires report a conduct offence, and the match referee decides the charge and the sanction afterwards.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (Code of Conduct) · applied

The match referee has no power over on-field or third-umpire decisions; his remit is conduct and administration.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (match referee) · applied

The reserve officials cover exactly this, so one moves onto the field and play carries on with two umpires in the middle.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (match officials) · applied