An umpire in
cricket (from the Old French Nompere meaning not equal,
i.e. 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.
Traditionally, cricket matches have two umpires on the field, one standing at
the end opposite the striking batsman's end (behind the stumps) and one 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 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 also normally have trained umpires. The
Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers conducts umpire training in the
UK, and three exams and two years practical on-field umpiring have to be
completed before an individual can become a Qualified Member.
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.
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
other (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 is 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,
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 he must 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.
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 will not give a batsman out unless appealed to 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 is the norm for a
batsman to walk when he is 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 man is out, or to clearly say "not out", which is
usually accompanied with a shake of the head. (See
BBC Sport).
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 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.
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 is 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 does not 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.aaa
Dead ball
If the ball is no-longer considered in play, it is a
dead ball. An umpire will signal this, by crossing and uncrossing his
wrists below his waist with the call Dead Ball, if he is required to do so under
certain Laws, and also may do it if he thinks it is 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 the
conduction 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 is 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 is not used except in international or important
domestic matches. The signal to refer a matter is using both hands to mime a
T.V. 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 is 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 an error 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. The signal, placing each palm on the opposite shoulder, is very
rarely seen. See
BBC Sport.
New Ball
In matches lasting more than one day a captain has the option of a new ball
after a minimum of 75 overs (or the length of time prescribed by any special
playing conditions). 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.
References and links
-
http://www.AcumenBooks.com specialise in the supply of the above, and many
other, books and equipment for cricket umpires and scorers - also coaches,
players and spectators.
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