Umpires Signals

  • Out!!

    An umpire will not 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, however, it is the norm for a batsman to walk when he is out bowled or out to an obvious catch. If the fielding side believes a batsman is out, the fielding side must appeal to the umpire. 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. The 'out' signal is the only signal that the scorer does not have to acknowledge.

  • Four Runs

    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. 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 Runs

    A six, scored by hitting the ball over the boundary without the ball bouncing, is signalled by the umpire raising both hands above his head.

  • Wide Ball

    A delivery too wide for a batsman to play a shot. It is signalled with both arms outstretched. The umpire will judge a delivery to be wide if it is out of the reach of the batsman and he is unable to play a correct cricket shot.

  • No Ball

    Either umpire may call, and signal, No Ball, for a ball which is illegally delivered. The most usual causes for No Balls are foot faults (overstepping the crease) or a ball passing above a batsman's head. 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. The no-ball doesn't count as one of the six in the over. A Batsman cannot be out off a no ball unless he is run out.

  • TV 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. The signal to refer a matter is using both hands to mime a TV screen by making a box shape.

  • Cancel Call

    If the umpire makes an incorrect signal, he may change it. The cancellation is made if the umpire finds the wrong of application of the laws, such as, signaling "out" but then realizing that the other umpire signaled a no-ball. Also, an umpire may revoke if he accidentally signals a four though he intended to signal six. With the use of the Decision Review System, a signal may also be changed if the Third Umpire reports that his review supports changing the call

  • Bye

    Bye: If a delivery passes the batsman and fielder and a run is scored, it is known as a bye. It is a legal delivery passing the stumps with the ball touching neither the bat nor the batsman's body. The umpire's signal is one arm stretched above the body.

  • Leg Bye

    Called when a ball hits any part of the batsman's body (except the hand holding the bat) and not the bat. It is signalled with a hand touching the umpire's raised knee

  • Dead Ball

    This indicates the previous bowl is cancelled and is signalled by the crossing of the wrists below the knee. If the ball comes off a batsman's pad without him attempting a shot then a dead ball is called to negate any score.

  • One Short

    A batsman failing to make his ground when turning between runs is guilty of one short. This would be called when a batsman is running two or more, but fails to make his ground and puts his bat in short at one of the turns.

  • Penalty Runs

    These are treated like byes and leg byes as they are added to the extras. They could come into play for things like illegal fielding, time-wasting and the fielders damaging the pitch; warnings would be given first.

  • New Ball

    In Test cricket, the fielding side may request a new ball after it has been in use for 80 overs. The batsmen are informed and the umpire indicates the new ball to the scorers by raising it in the air.

  • Last Hour

    In Tests, there is a minimum number of overs to be bowled in a day and at least 15 must be bowled in the last hour of the final day. In county cricket, when 96 overs have to be bowled, 80 overs must be played before the last hour can start.