Every sport requires an umpire or a referee to enforce the rules and make sure the game is being played in the correct spirt; and, of course, cricket is no exception to this practice.
An umpire in cricket is a person from the official team tasked with making important decisions during the course of a cricket match. Umpire’s decision is the final decision on the field. An umpire also ensures that the equipment used, and match conditions are fair and follow the rules of the game.
An umpire’s job begins as soon as they arrive at the ground, and they continue until long after the final bowl is bowled. Here’s everything you need to know about an umpire in Cricket!
Who is an Umpire in Cricket?
As mentioned above, an umpire on a cricket field is an individual functioning in an official capacity to oversee and adjudicate decisions during a cricket match.
In most cases, there are two umpires officiating a cricket match on the field. At the international level, there is another umpire known as the third umpire, who is not present on the field but is equally involved in the action going on the field.
A cricket umpire can easily be identified on a cricket field as they typically are dressed differently than the other players on the field. You will usually see them wearing a hat rather than a cap, and a black trousers with white (or red) shirt.
When the match is taking place, one of the umpire shall be seen at the bowler’s end, while the other umpire would be usually seen standing at the leg side of the batsman on the strikers end. The umpire in this position is known as the leg umpire.
What are the Responsibilities of an Umpire in Cricket?
In most games at any level, there will be two umpires on the field of play at any one time. Each command one end of the field, taking it in turns to stand either behind the stumps at the bowler’s end, or in line with the batsman’s crease in the ‘square-leg’ position.
As we already mentioned, in the professional game, there is often also a ‘Third Umpire’ who is in control of the video-assisted decision making. There are certain circumstances when the ‘Third Umpire’ can over-rule the on-field umpire’s decision.
However, this can only happen if the umpire asks for their help or if a team chose to contest an umpire’s decision using a referral.
Nevertheless, each umpire has a key role to play during the course of the cricket match. Let’s look at some of the responsibilities of a cricket umpire –
Responsibilities Before a Match Starts
Although umpires must be vigilant throughout the entirety of the match, they often carry out the majority of the umpire’s duties before even a single bowl is bowled!
When they arrive, one of their firsts tasks is to judge the condition of the field of play. They must make sure that the wicket which has been selected by the ground staff to play on meets the required regulations and that the outfield is in a suitable condition to play.
Particularly if the field is affected by rain, it is the umpires who have to make a decision about when and if the match should take place.
The umpires must also make sure that the teams are ready to play and that both captains are happy with the conditions, equipment, and rules by which any particular match will be played.
After all, T20 matches have different rules in some cases to Test Matches, so it is important everyone is fully aware of these before play begins.
Keeping Count of the Bowls Bowled
One of the jobs of the umpire is to keep track, on the field, of how many bowls have been bowled in an over.
This responsibility does not lie entirely on their shoulders, as the scorers off the pitch will also be keeping a tally of this in case they should make a mistake.
However, the game flows a lot more smoothly when the umpires are themselves able to stay on top of this relatively simple aspect of their job.
It is, however, not the umpire’s job to keep tally of the score. There are lots of gadgets available to help make this an easier task, such as hand-held tickers to keep tally of each ball bowled in an over.
Free IPL 2022 Live Streaming Apps f... Free IPL 2022 Live Streaming Apps for Mobile & PC
We covered the list of devices used by a cricket umpire in detail giving a complete breakup of all the various gadgets that are at the disposal of a cricket umpire. Be sure to check it out!List of Devices Used by a Cricket Umpire [With Images]
Although, no doubt, and umpire will be keeping a beady eye on the score of the match should the scorers make any obvious mistakes on the scoreboard.
However, this is predominantly the responsibility of the scorers, so that the umpires can focus on the smaller details of the match which require them to make the correct decisions.
Duties of the Umpire at the Bowler’s End
The umpire at the bowler’s end has to keep an eye out to see if the bowler’s foot is over the line of the popping crease. If it is, then they must award a no ball as per the directions above.
Similarly, it is the job of the umpire at the bowler’s end to decide whether or not a ball was outside the line at which it must be deemed a wide. This can be subjective, although the leniency is generally greater in longer forms of the game; as umpire’s look to encourage bowlers to bowl nearer the stumps in T20 cricket in order to allow for more wickets and runs.
They must also make decisions as to whether the bowler is impeding on areas of the wicket which they are supposed to avoid stepping in. This is because a bowler might repeatedly plant their foot in a spot which, if roughed up, might make it harder for the batsmen, thanks to a more unpredictable turn and bounce, when he returns to that end in the next over.
Umpires can warn bowlers about this no more than three times, at which point penalty runs will be awarded and the bowler forbidden to bowl any more.
Last but not least, it is the job of the umpire at the bowler’s end to decide whether or not a batsman is out Leg Before Wicket (LBW). This requires a keen eye for geometry and physics and must take into account the flight, turn, bounce, pitch, and line of delivery at the point when the ball strikes the batsman’s pads.
Responsibilities of a Square Leg Umpire
The square leg umpire is there to assist his partner at the bowler’s end with any of these decisions should he spot anything that may help him in making a decision.
The square leg umpire is also required to watch for the height of the delivery when it passes the batsman. If it is too high, either before or after it bounces, as it passes the batsman and goes through the wicket-keeper, then they must declare that ball to be a ‘no-ball’.
The square leg umpire is also required to make decisions about run-outs and stumpings at their end. While run out decisions are required by umpire’s at both ends (and are regularly checked by a third umpire in games where there is one) the square-leg umpire has a greater responsibility to watch for a batsman being caught out of his crease by the wicket-keeper if or when he misses the ball.
Role of the Third Umpire in Cricket
Stumpings are often something for which the on-field umpires will go to the ‘Third Umpire’ or DRS (Decision Review System) to check, as well as runouts as previously mentioned.
They will also help in making decisions about people being caught or run out and bowled LBW; as well as deciding whether or not a ball has gone over the boundary for a four or a six.
They not only have the use of televisual footage when making these decisions but in some cases, they also use technology such as Hot Spot, Hawkeye and Snick-o in order to help them find conclusive evidence upon which to base their ultimate call.
What are the Various Types of Umpire’s Signals?
One of an umpires most important tasks is to relay to both the scorers and any people who might be watching around the ground, what decision they have made at any given time.
Unlike American Football where umpires often speak to the crowd through a microphone, as well as using hand signals; cricket umpires rely entirely on a number of gestures which indicate to anyone concerned what has just happened on the field of play.
Some of the basic hand-signals of a cricket umpire are elaborated as below –
- Batsman Out – The umpire raises one arm above his head, with his index finger outstretched.
- Four – The umpire swishes his hand in front of his chest, signifying the ball rolling along the floor to the boundary.
- Six – The umpire raises both arms above his head, often with index fingers pointing to the sky.
- No Ball – The umpire extends his right arm to his side perpendicular to his body.
- Wide – The umpire extends both arms to the side.
- Bye – The umpire raises his arm in the air and signals with the other how many runs were scored with his fingers.
- Leg bye – The same as with a bye but lifting his leg and patting it with his hand
- One Short – When the batsman fails to plant his bat beyond the crease when running between the wickets, the umpire taps his shoulder and indicates with his fingers how many times they failed to break the line of the crease.
- Referring to the 3rd Umpire for Help – Drawing the outline of a tv monitor with the hands in front of the face.
How do Umpires get Selected?
The process of an umpire getting selected in the domestic circuit is a bit different from the one’s selected at the international matches. Let’s understand the process for domestic umpires at once.
Selection of Umpires at the Domestic Level
At the domestic cricket level, there are several steps that an individual usually needs to go through
Prospective umpires first need to pass what is called an “Umpire Certification Exam”. Once an individual clears that exam, he becomes eligible to officiate in local matches.
Over the course of several years, an umpire needs to participate in refresher exams and continue officiating in official local league matches. Based on the performance of the umpire, he is chosen to participate in state or county cricket matches.
Selection of Umpires at International Cricket Matches
Selection of umpires at the international level follows a slightly different process.
Top performing umpires at the domestic circuit from a particular are nominated by the respective Country’s Cricket Boards to participate in the Umpire Course & Certification Exam organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Once an umpire clears these exams, they are designated to participate in International Cricket Matches. Each umpire’s performance is evaluated throughout the year for every single match.
Based on the performance during the matches, and the subsequent refresher courses, umpires get inducted into the ICC Umpire’s Elite Panel.
Umpires in the Elite Panel get special perks and higher allowances. Additionally, only the umpires from the Elite Panel get to participate in the major tournaments organized by the ICC.
What Skills do Umpires Need?
As you can imagine from all of the above information, umpire’s must have a number of important skillsets in order to do their job effectively and to keep everybody happy – which may quite often be the hardest job of all.
They must have unwavering levels of concentration, first and foremost. Each and every ball they have to keep their eyes on several important details of the match; sometimes several at once and sometimes repeating this day after day for five days on end if they are officiating a test match.
They must also have an eye for detail, as their decisions are often reliant on minute differences of just a few millimetres, if the batsman is just short of his crease or if the ball is just pitching outside the line of off-stump.
This also means that they need a strong belief in their ability to make decisions. Especially when the bowling side is all screaming in your face asking for you to give the batsman out, it takes nerves of steel not to budge on your gut feeling.
Ultimately, as stated by former umpire Simon Taufel, having ‘mental strength’ is a key skill for any umpire – particularly in the modern game where you have to frequently admit you made the wrong decision if the 3rd umpire or DRS overturns the original one.
How Much do Umpires Get Paid?
On average, the salary of an international umpire empanelled with the ICC’s Umpire Elite Panel can get paid in the range of about $115,000 to $140,000 annually!
The above amount includes an annual fixed base pay which is given irrespective of the total number of matches officiated. This is usually around $35,000 to $45,000 based on how much experience an umpire already has as a member of the Elite Panel. However, the variable pay is based on the number of various formats of the international matches officiated.
Typically, a cricket umpire who is part of the ICC umpire’s elite panel gets to participate in about 8-10 Test Matches a year, about 15 ODI matches, and approximately 10-12 T20 matches every year.
The payment is quite substantially lower for umpires at the domestic circuit. This varies significantly across the various governing cricket boards of the test playing nations.
How to Become an Umpire?
In order to become an umpire, you must pass a number of courses, exams and tests to prove that you know the rules and are able to effectively implement them on the field of play.
These range from courses to help those who might simply want to help out with officiating at their local club or school, right through to those at the highest level, officiating on the world stage at tournaments such as the ICC World Cup or The Ashes.
It is important to note that although the process of becoming an umpire varies slightly from one country to another, it is largely similar in nature across most of the test playing nations.
We wrote about how to become an umpire in great depth! Be sure to check it out if that’s something that interests you.How to Become a Cricket Umpire in India – A Beginner’s Guide
Final Thoughts
An umpire plays the most important role in a cricket match. However, being an umpire in cricket is not all that easy. They have a huge list of responsibilities that they have to carry out.
My hope is that this article gives you an adequate insight into who is an umpire and the role they play during a cricket match.
FAQs
What does umpire do in cricket? ›
In cricket, an umpire (from the Old French nompere meaning not a peer, i.e. not a member of one of the teams, impartial) is a person who has the authority to make decisions about events on the cricket field according to the Laws of Cricket.
Who is the No 1 umpire in cricket history? ›Harold Dennis “Dickie Bird” – Arguably the best cricket umpire of all time! The Englishman was loved by everyone in the cricket world, fans, opponents, players, and experts during his 23-year umpiring career. Having to give up football due to an injury, Bird turned to cricket where he had a below-average career.
What is umpires call in cricket? ›Umpire's call will come into play when the impact is a long way from the stumps. The playing conditions stipulate that if the first point of interception was 300cm or more from the stumps, then the umpire's call remains.
How many umpires are in cricket? ›Setting up the game. Before the match, two umpires shall be appointed, one for each end, to control the match as required by the Laws, with absolute impartiality.
What can an umpire do? ›Definition. Umpires are responsible for enforcing on-field rules and rendering decisions on judgment calls such as: Whether a batter or baserunner is safe or out, and whether a pitched baseball is a strike or a ball.
How to do umpiring in cricket? ›In India, to become a cricket umpire, one must first pass written and oral exams and register with the respective state cricket association. After that, you have to umpire local cricket matches and gradually clear BCCI level 1 and level 2 exams to gain BCCI expertise as an umpire.
Has an umpire ever been hit? ›There was a scary moment in Wednesday afternoon's series finale between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees (NYY 4, CLE 3) at Progressive Field. Second base umpire Larry Vanover was hit in the head by a relay throw from Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez in the fifth inning, and had to leave the game.
Who was the umpire known as God? ›Doug Harvey, a Major League Baseball umpire for 31 years whose calls of balls or strikes, fair or foul, safe or out were delivered with such gusto and authority that he was known as "God" to thousands of ballplayers, died Jan. 13 in Visalia, Calif. He was 87.
Which cricket umpire has unique style? ›Billy Bowden will be an on-field umpire at T20 Black Clash 2023 on Friday, January 20. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. So when rheumatoid arthritis made it too painful for cricket umpire Billy Bowden to use the conventional hand signals during a match, he simply made up alternative versions of his own.
Which umpire calls foul? ›The only judgement is whether the batted ball hit the batter while he is still in the batter's box. If it did, then you have a foul ball. Come up fast, big and loud: "FOUL! FOUL!" This call belongs to any umpire who sees it.
Which umpire called a perfect game? ›
Hoberg was the center of attention for good news. He tallied a perfect game, accurately calling every single pitch from behind the plate in Game 2 of the World Series.
Why do cricket umpires wear white? ›Umpire's Test coats haven't really changed all that much since 1861, when English cricketer William Armitstead, during a United England XI vs the Free Foresters match, requested the officials to change to white clothes as he was losing sight of the ball on the bowlers' end - something that would come full circle more ...
Do umpires get paid? ›In the summer, we (Gameday) pays anywhere from $55-$75 per game depending on the age level. In the minor leagues, umpires can earn anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 per month, while in the Major Leagues, umpires can earn upwards of $300,000 per year.
Do all umpires get paid? ›Further, most baseball umpires are paid on a per-game basis, and at the local level, you'll find a number of umpires who work as volunteers and don't get paid at all. Per the bureau, many sports officials officiate on a part-time basis while maintaining full-time jobs.
Do cricket umpires get paid well? ›Normally, an Elite panel umpire stands in 8-10 Test matches and 10-15 ODIs in one year which clearly says that one elite panel umpire makes around $45000. Not limited to this, the umpires also earn a hefty amount through different T20 leagues across the world mainly BBL, IPL, PSL, etc.
What skills do umpires need? ›- JUDGEMENT. The umpire must be able to exercise judgment during the course of the sporting event. ...
- KNOWLEDGE OF RULES. The umpire should be well-versed in the rules of the game. ...
- COMMUNICATION SKILLS. ...
- COURAGE. ...
- PROMPT DECISION-MAKING. ...
- HANDLE PRESSURE. ...
- PHYSICAL FITNESS.
Some umpires have been suspended or fined for misapplying rules or allowing teams to engage in rule violations. In fact, umpires get disciplined all the time.
How can I be a good umpire? ›- Qualities of a Good Umpire.
- Should be physically fit, keeping their bodies agile and strong. ...
- Good umpiring is dependent upon a complete knowledge and understanding of the rules. ...
- The efficient umpire will not showboat; they will execute their duties without flair.
Umpiring is for anybody, and you'll be joining over more than 5000 active Umpires taking the centre stage where all the action takes place. Take your first step in starting your Umpiring journey and get the ball rolling.
Can umpire change his call? ›Umpires can confer and correct a call on plays in which there is a question about a catch or a trap if the ball is foul or if there are no runners on base and the ball is fair. It might also make sense to correct a call if there is a lone runner regardless of the base occupied.
How hard is umpiring? ›
Being an umpire is a tough and rewarding job. As an umpire, you're in charge of making a variety of subjective calls and rulings over the course of a baseball game. While this can be a lot of fun, it can also be quite challenging.
Can you touch an umpire? ›Physical contact with an umpire is a ground for ejection. Refusal to stop arguing, and further delaying the game after the umpire has provided a player or manager adequate opportunity to make a point, is a ground for ejection.
Can you argue with an umpire? ›According to the rule book, arguing with the umpire is illegal.
Is it a dead ball if it hits the umpire? ›Rule 5.09(f) Comment: If a fair ball touches an umpire working in the infield after it has bounded past, or over, the pitcher, it is a dead ball.
What is a god with no name? ›A God with No Name is an original take on the history of god and tells the story of his evolution from a lowly Canaanite tribal deity up to his present position as a being of universal power and prestige.
Who was the umpire in Field of Dreams? ›On August 9, it was revealed that Iowa native Pat Hoberg would be the home plate umpire for the game. The White Sox and Yankees both wore throwback uniforms resembling those worn during the 1919 Major League Baseball season.
What do cricket umpires hold in their hand? ›The Counter
Before the invention of these devices, the umpire used to have a set of 6 coins, stones or marbles for counting the balls in an over. The umpires used to transfer the coin or marble from one hand to another. But these days are gone and nowadays umpires use “the counter” for the same purpose.
The forearm shield is used as protection to prevent the umpire from shots that are aimed towards them. This protective device is made of perspex and worn on the non-signalling arm. Perspex is a solid transparent plastic which is made of polymethyl methacrylate.
How accurate are umpires? ›In 2008, 67% of missed calls happened there. Now it's 96%. In 2022, umpires missed a call in the heart, chase, or waste zone once every 2.74 games. All of this is to say that today's umpires are pretty much never wrong on anything but close pitches, and they're still getting better on those close pitches.
Why can't you call an umpire blue? ›The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump. They are also sometimes addressed as blue at lower levels due to the common color of the uniform worn by umpires. In professional baseball, the term blue is seldom used by players or managers, who instead call the umpire by name.
What do umpires say instead of strike? ›
Out/Strike
Strikes are called with the right hand. Some umpires point to the side; others make a clenched fist. The “out” call — also a clenched fist — is used after a third strike or when a runner is out before reaching a base.
The umpire shall call and signal No ball for any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease. In addition to the instances above, No ball is to be called and signalled as required by the following Laws.
Which umpire calls illegal pitch? ›When an illegal pitch occurs, it shall be called immediately by the plate or base umpire. The Effect can result in one of two actions: If the pitch is not released, give a dead-ball signal and stop play.
How much do perfect game umpires get paid? ›How much does an Umpire make at Perfect Game USA in the United States? Average Perfect Game USA Umpire yearly pay in the United States is approximately $30,000, which is 25% below the national average.
Has an UMP ever had a perfect game? ›According to Umpire Scorecards, Hoberg made World Series history by calling a perfect game behind the plate. Out of the 129 taken pitches in the game, Hoberg made the correct call on every single one of them.
What's a cricket ball called? ›At present there are 3 types of cricket balls used in the test matches; i.e. Kookaburra, Dukes and SG. In this article we have explained the main facts about these balls.
Why do they use a red ball in Test cricket? ›"Once it gets older, the red ball will swing more and even start to reverse swing after a certain stage. In that way the red ball helps the bowlers as they have to negotiate the swing in the initial overs unlike the white ball in which the batsman comes at you from ball one.
Why do umpires crease their hats? ›Putting a crease across the front of your umpire cap is one of many ways an umpire can make a good impression and stand out from the players and coaches.
Do umpires ever get fired? ›Umpires do not lose their jobs because of bad calls on plays or even strikes and balls. By the time they get to the MLB, they know the rule book very well, have had a great deal of practice and would not be selected to that level if they were bad to begin with.
Do umpires get paid for extra innings? ›Researchers find that during extra innings, baseball umpires make calls in a way that tends to end games sooner. This seems to be because umpires aren't given additional money to work extra innings.
Do umpires get paid extra for extra innings? ›
Also worth noting is that according to Major League Baseball, umpires don't get paid overtime when games go into extra innings. Like my favorite Little League ump, that's not much incentive to want to hang around if you've got dinner reservations to make.
How much does the highest paid umpire make? ›For the league's umpires, the minimum salary is $150,000 (plus quite a few perks), and the most experienced veterans can make $450,000 per year. Before you quit your day job to try to get a piece of that pie, be forewarned—the road to that much money is a long one that requires a lot of luck and hard work.
Do umpires travel with the teams? ›MLB Umpires are responsible for traveling to various cities across the United States during the baseball season. As a result, their travel expenses can quickly add up, from transportation fees to hotel accommodations and meals.
How do umpires get hired? ›Professional League
To become a professional umpire, you must attend a professional umpire school. The schools are generally five weeks long. The top students are selected for an extra one-week evaluation program conducted by the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation.
1 umpire $90 ($45 from each team). Where there is no play, but players and umpires have reported to ground as per instructions on the MCA website - $50 per umpire (each team to pay one umpire), including T20 matches.
What is the minimum salary for an umpire? ›For the 2022 season, the average salary for an MLB umpire was $235,000. MLB empires start out at $2,000-$2,300 per month but slowly increase that amount with growing expertise. The number may seem astronomically high, but there are a few reasons why MLB umpires make so much.
What is the umpire fee? ›Umpire Fees means the umpire's charges, plus the additional fee, if any, of the packaging, handling, and transporting of the Official Sample to and from the umpire.
Can an umpire eject a player in cricket? ›42.4.2.3 The umpires shall direct the captain to remove the offending player immediately from the field of play for a period in accordance with the following: 42.4.2.3. 1 In a match where the innings are not limited to a number of overs, the player shall be suspended from the field of play for 10 overs.
What is the difference between referee and umpire in cricket? ›What is the Difference between Umpire and Referee in Cricket? Cricket has both umpires and referees. Umpires are responsible for making decisions during the game while the referee will mostly deal with any issues of poor discipline that have arisen in the match.
What happens if a batsman hits the umpire? ›Whenever any decision involving the fall of a wicket is in any doubt whatsoever in an umpire's mind, the umpire must rule in favour of the batsman. If a live ball hits an umpire, it is still live and play continues. If it lodges in an umpire's clothing, it becomes dead.
Can umpires take back a call? ›
Baserunners must be alert to the possibility that the base umpire on appeal from the plate umpire may reverse the call of a ball to the call of a strike, in which event the runner is in jeopardy of being out by the catcher's throw.
Do umpires get fired? ›Umpires can be fired. Technically. Major league umpires resigned en masse during a labor negotiation in 1999 and MLB took the opportunity to not hire 22 of them back. But if you're curious the last time an umpire was fired because he wasn't very good at his job, good luck.
Do bad umpires get fired? ›Umpires do not lose their jobs because of bad calls on plays or even strikes and balls. By the time they get to the MLB, they know the rule book very well, have had a great deal of practice and would not be selected to that level if they were bad to begin with. Have you ever been unfairly fired? Yes.
Why are umpires called blue? ›Umpires are often referred as "Blue" because of the traditional color of their uniforms.
Do you have to play cricket to be an umpire? ›It is not necessary for any applicant to have played competitive cricket before becoming the umpire, if anyone had played cricket earlier it would be an added advantage. There are various stages that one has to clear before being eligible to officiate in an international game.
Who runs more a referee or a player? ›If a game is played to a full-time duration of 90 minutes, you can expect a referee to run six to eight miles. On average, a player will run seven miles, but they can stay in their allocated area, whereas referees have to stay close to the ball, which is constantly moving around the pitch.
What does P mean in cricket? ›In cricket, a penalty run is a type of extra. It is a run awarded to one team for various breaches of the Laws by the other team, generally related to unfair play or player conduct.
Has a batter ever attacked an umpire? ›Fortunately, the umpire wasn't injured, but it was the first time in baseball history that any player had struck an umpire with a bat. Young was suspended for 50 games for the horrifying incident, the longest suspension ever handed out in the International League's 123-year history at the time.
What is death over in cricket? ›Bowlers with most wickets in death overs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Notably, bowling in the death overs (last 4 overs of an innings) is one of the most high-pressure situations in IPL. Only a few bowlers have mastered the art of death bowling in the cash-rich league.