# Umpires and Decisions · Cricket Level 2: Elementary

Cricket · Level 2: Elementary · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/cricket/level-2/umpires-and-decisions/)

Umpires and Decisions in Cricket (Level 2: Elementary) on Insporta: 60 sourced facts behind 6 tests. Covers: the two umpires and their authority; and more.

This sub-level teaches how the two on-field umpires run the game — their authority over the conditions and over fair play, the set of signals and the wait for the scorers, how an appeal works and which umpire answers it, and the technology layer on top: the Decision Review System, the "umpire's call" margin on ball-tracking, and the separate jobs of the third umpire, the fourth umpire and the match referee.

## Test 1: The two umpires and their authority

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 2: The signals

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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))

## Test 3: Appeals and the decision

- 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)
- "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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## Test 4: The Decision Review System

- DRS applies only when it has been adopted in the playing conditions for that particular series or tournament. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- Test cricket gives a side more unsuccessful reviews per innings than the limited-overs formats do. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- Clear evidence that the original decision was wrong, here an inside edge, means the on-field decision is overturned. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- Without clear evidence to overturn it, the umpire's original call is upheld. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- 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))
- 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))
- Once the allowance of failed reviews is gone, the side cannot review again until its next innings. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))

## Test 5: Umpire's call and ball-tracking

- The three checks are pitching, impact, and whether the ball was going on to hit the wicket. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- A ball that pitches outside leg stump cannot bring an lbw, regardless of the impact or the projected path. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- Where ball-tracking is within its margin of error, the on-field decision, out or not out, is retained. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- With ball-tracking on umpire's call, the on-field decision stands, and here that decision was out. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (DRS))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

## Test 6: Third umpire, fourth umpire and match referee

- Run-outs and stumpings referred to the television umpire are decided by him from the replays. (Source: ICC Playing Conditions (third umpire))
- 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))
- 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))
- A referred catch often looked inconclusive on replay, and the clear-evidence burden meant the soft signal was rarely overturned. (Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

Sources: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022) for the Laws themselves; ICC Playing Conditions per format for the officiating and regulation detail that overrides the Laws in international cricket (DRS, powerplays, over rates, concussion replacements, the free hit); ESPNcricinfo for recent changes such as the soft-signal retirement. Questions are authored from these sources, not reproduced from them.

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