Notes for Cricket Umpires

Updated November 2003 for North Harbour Junior Cricket UP TO AND INCLUDING Year 8 GRADE

These notes are intended as a guide for teachers, parents or players who take on the role of umpire and were originally prepared by the late Ian Talbot, a member of the Auckland and NZ Cricket Umpires Associations and have since been modified to suit the grade of cricket played within North Harbour Junior Cricket.

FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN ON TV!!

1. All games in NZ – Provincial, Club and School - are played according to the MCC Laws (2000 code with subsequent amendments effective 1/10/2000), NZ Cricket Playing Conditions (where applicable) and any rules or playing conditions from the organisation governing your particular competition (North Harbour Junior Cricket).

2. Disregard the inside covers of your scorebook! Many scorebooks have the “Laws of Cricket” printed inside the cardboard covers. These have not been the Laws of Cricket since prior to the 1980 re-write and most of those ‘laws’ are no longer relevant or correct.

3. Have an up-to-date copy of the Laws of Cricket. The Laws now encompass the spirit and traditions of the game. Like many sports, the game of cricket is defined by its laws. As an umpire, you cannot decide to apply some laws and skip others. You must apply ALL the laws impartially. A copy of the Laws of Cricket may be downloaded from the NHJC website.

PRIOR TO THE GAME

1. Be at the venue well before the scheduled start. Find your fellow umpire and make sure you both fully understand the Laws and rules you will be playing to.

2. Make sure you both know where the boundary is: walk it together and identify any potential problems such as overhanging trees, immovable objects etc. How many runs when these objects are hit? If the boundary is unmarked make sure you both, and BOTH captains, know what you are going to consider as the boundary. Is a fence on the boundary? Fences are no longer treated separately. The base of the fence is the boundary. The fence itself is now outside the boundary. Sight screens are automatically OUTSIDE the boundary.

3. Look for dangerous holes – taps, drain holes, rugby/soccer post holes etc and make sure ALL the players know they exist.

4. If there are special circumstances that will affect the game make sure your fellow umpire, and both captains, know what they are: are you umpiring the whole game or swapping with someone else for instance.

5. If you or he are swapping then include ALL umpires in the discussions so everyone knows what is going on. Incidentally, the swapping of umpires in any game is frowned upon (contrary to the Laws in fact) but is accepted as a fact of life in NHJC cricket: the downside being it is impossible to maintain consistency!

6. Together, talk with both Captains. Make sure they know any special rules or conditions.

7. Make sure you all know when drinks will be taken and when the innings must end, lunch break etc will occur.

8. Ensure you all know what constitutes a wide for this grade! This is probably the most contentious issue facing umpires: consistency of wides.

9. If the weather is inclement decide, with the Captains, when play is to commence. Work out any reduced over count.

10. Decide which umpire shall be the official time keeper: there can be only one!

11. Get the match ball from each team. Are they the correct type and size for the grade?

12. Ensure the stumps are correctly pitched. The wicket should be 9” wide and pitched with the centre line of the stumps on the bowling crease (back edge of the line). Too many times we see stumps pitched in the middle of the painted line!

13. Drink plenty of liquid: You will be surprised just how much liquid you lose standing out there.

14. Sun tan cream!

MAKE IT A HABIT TO DO THESE CHECKS AS A PRE GAME RITUAL WITH YOUR OPPOSITE NUMBER EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY KNOW THEM WELL AND TRUST THEIR JUDGEMENT

WHAT TO CARRY WITH YOU

1. A counter of some sort. Some umpires use stones or coins. You need to count six good balls and, in one day games, the overs gone.

2. BOTH umpires should have a counter and should check the ball count with each other EVERY over. It is normal to do this when there are TWO good balls remaining in the over: a polite two finger salute to your colleague; usually two fingers downwards facing J. (Watch the ‘professionals’ next time: they all do it, at all levels). If you agree, and you should, then all is well. If not, then the Bowlers umpire has control of the over and the final decision is his. If you disagree often then perhaps one of you needs to look at the way you are counting!

3. A bowler’s marker. This is given to the bowler at your end so he does not have to dig a canal in the outfield to mark his starting point.

4. A small notebook for recording unusual events. Such as runs scored from overthrows, runs short etc. Note the over and ball and compare with the scorers at the next break. Also record the number of overs bowled by each bowler as a cross check for scorers.

5. A couple of good pens and maybe a pencil if it looks like rain: pens don’t write under water, pencils do, even on damp paper.

6. A small towel to wipe the ball if it is wet. ‘Borrowed’ bar towels are excellent.

7. Some chalk. Normal blackboard chalk is OK but pavement OR Engineers chalk is better. Used to mark wide lines (later) and used by the batters to mark centre etc on an artificial pitch. Saves a lot of time and minimises pitch damage

8. Do not forget lip salve and the good old Barley Sugars…

SCORERS

1. They are an important part of the umpiring team. Make sure you know where they are sitting and ensure they are visible at all times.

2. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure the score is correct, not theirs! Check at every break that they agree. Check they have recorded any unusual scores correctly: that is why you have that notebook.

3. It is NOT their job to keep track of the balls remaining in an over!

4. Make sure the scorers acknowledge EVERY signal you make (and sometimes there is more than one acknowledgement required e.g. three times for a no-ball boundary NOT off the bat, No-Ball; Bye; Boundary: in that order) AND that they acknowledge each one.

5. They must acknowledge the correct signal. I.e. a No-Ball or Wide is called and signalled to the players when it occurs: NOT to the scorers until the ball becomes dead: hence you actually call it once and signal it twice. They will need to wait for clarification of a Bye or Leg-Bye until the ball is dead, as well.

6. Make sure the scorers are aware “it is NOT a boundary until signalled as one” even if the ball bounces over the line at their feet.

7. If a scoreboard is being used then insist it is updated at least every over.

WE ARE READY TO START…WHAT NEXT?

1. The Bowlers umpire has some tasks to perform before the start of every session:

2. He needs to count the fielders: only 11 allowed and many games have started with 12 or 13 on the field.. The strikers Umpire can also do this as well as ensuring there are only two behind square leg..

3. Check that his colleague is ready.

4. Scorers ready?

5. Bails in place at both ends: this is often overlooked, especially after lunch.

6. Batters ready: is the striker taking guard and hence needs a guide ?

7. Hand the ball to the bowler, announce his mode of delivery to the striker. E.g. “Right arm over”

8. Call “Play”.

9. Be awake from the first ball! Wickets often fall/appeals can be made quickly in the first few games of a season and you may feel (and possibly look) silly if you were day dreaming and missed the play.

THE BOWLERS UMPIRE

1. Has control of the over BUT should not hesitate to consult with his colleague on points of fact – either verbally or by gesture.

2. Has jurisdiction for almost all the ways of being out – except stumping, hit wicket, and run-out at the strikers end.

3. Gets to call the wides and almost all the no-balls – except wicket keeper or fielder transgressions. Special note: Contrary to popular belief, the bowlers umpire is the only one who can call no-ball for balls above head height, shoulder height or waist height (42.6) or other bowling transgressions (42.7 & 42.8). However, the strikers umpire should assist with an indication of high balls. A good indication is stick one arm out and call ‘no ball'

4. For all the methods of being out, an appeal is required before you can adjudge. You may have witnessed the best LBW of the season but unless at least one fielder appeals then all you can do is bite your tongue.

5. You should stand so you get a clear view of the striker and a clear view of the bowling, popping and part of the return crease. Ideally, only your eyes should move between popping crease and striker during the delivery so that you can pick up and call No Ball for the bowler overstepping: but your head stays still. If you stand back from the wicket the equivalent of your height you will be about right. A bowler can ask you to move forward or back and you should comply within reason (Law 3.11)

6. Watch where the ball goes! Listen! You will need both senses to detect a nick or slight deviation. With experience you will be able to tell the sound of bat on ball from bat on ground or shoe etc.

7. If the ball is hit move TOWARDS the side it was hit ensuring you are not blocking a potential run-out and you are in a position to see the run-out.

8. Watch for a boundary or catch BUT make sure you also see the running batter ground their bat behind the popping crease.

9. Look for and signal runs short.

10. If a catch, had the batters crossed before the catch was finally completed?

11. Make sure the scorers know what happened… And a leg bye signal does NOT have the arm raised.

12. If an appeal is made you MUST answer it either by saying NOT OUT or raising the finger… You cannot simply ignore an appeal because you may not like it: for instance handled ball and hit twice often create problems as does the occasion when the batter picks up the ball without permission from a fielder (handled ball) or kicks it back to a fielder (obstruction). If the appeal is made then you have to decide, according to the Laws.

13. An appeal need not be a raucous shout – one lone voice quietly saying 'Howzat' is sufficient. BUT until an appeal is made you can never adjudge a batter out. He may walk of his own accord, which does not require any intervention from you UNLESS you consider he was in fact not out.

14. One appeal covers ALL ways of being out. If you think the appeal was for LBW then that same appeal is still good for the stumping – a separate appeal is not required.

15. Do not forget to signal to your colleague when 2 good balls remain and watch for his signal in return.

THE STRIKERS UMPIRE (commonly, incorrectly, called square leg umpire).

1. You can stand WHICHEVER SIDE YOU WISH! You do not have to stand at square leg. And in many cases you are better standing at point: sun angle, position of leg side fielders, a runner on for an injured batter.. In the latter case you MUST stand at point to get a clear view of the runner (who should be at square leg), the injured batter, and the line of the popping crease – remember, either the runner or injured batter can be stumped or run-out.

2. There is no need to change sides if there is a right and a left batter. As a guide, it is normal to start the over on the square leg side (assuming normal circumstances) for the facing striker and stay there for the complete over.

3. Stand about 20 - 22 metres from the batter – this is about the same distance as that between wickets – your eyes will be used to that distance.

4. You are not standing at square leg for a rest!:

· How many fielders behind square leg?? This MUST be checked EVERY ball.

· Eyes immediately back to the batter. Was the ball too high? If so signal to the Bowlers Umpire – it is HIS duty to call No-ball, NOT yours!

· If the keeper is standing up to the wicket watch for transgressions such as taking the ball in front of the stumps (and many do!) – Law 40.

· If the ball is hit watch where it is heading – you may need to help with facts regarding a boundary or catch decision – BUT also watch for the batter grounding their bat behind the popping crease when running.

· Watch for stumpings and subsequent run-outs.

· Watch for hit-wicket. Nothing worse than finding a bail on the ground and not knowing how it got there… was it the wind or did the batsman dislodge it with his backfoot?

· Look for and signal runs short.

· Count the good balls bowled and signal to your colleague when 2 remain and watch for his signal.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LAW….DEAD BALL

Ask any professional umpire and he will agree that Law 23, Dead-Ball, is the most important law in the book. If there is one law you need to know backwards, it is this one.

1. Many ‘amateur’ umpires make the mistake of starting to re-build the wicket following an attempted run-out or stumping while the batters are still running or the fielders are still recovering the ball. The ball could still be ALIVE and you need to be aware of everything going on: just because one attempt failed does not mean another cannot be tried.

2. Where did the ball end up? If it made it to the boundary then you could be looking at overthrows.

3. How many runs were made prior to the throw? (crossed NOT completed = a run in this case).

4. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING until the ball is dead!

5. Until the ball is dead, by one of the automatic means or by being called dead (and there are only certain things you may call dead-ball for: not simply because you feel like it) you MUST watch what is happening around you and do NOT touch the wicket or bails.

6. A very common error… The ball is thrown back to the bowler by a fielder, without having become dead by any reason, and the bowler either is not awake or simply misses it and the umpire, thinking he is helping, catches it, picks it up or stops it with his foot…….. The ball was still alive and quite often batters will be aware of this and looking for that extra run! Again, DO NOT TOUCH!

7. And the most common error of them all, turning your back on the play to signal to the scorers while the ball is still alive! This action alone is usually enough to distinguish a qualified or competent Umpire from an ‘amateur’. Do not signal anything to the scorers until the ball is dead.

WIDES

Possibly the most contentious issue for umpires.

1. Confer with your colleague – make sure you are both using the same ‘standard’ for wides. If you have chalk mark the agreed position of wides (off and leg side) on the popping crease.

2. Obviously, if the ball is hit, or hits the batter, or passes between the stumps and the batter, it is not a wide.

3. Tell the Captains what the marks mean and how you intend to use them for wides.

4. Remember, the one-day game is designed for the batter.

5. The main thing is be consistent with wide calls. If you swap umpires mid innings then make sure your replacement knows exactly where you have been calling wides (off and leg).

LBW’s

The second most contentious issue. It is hard to see what the hassles are over this Law.

There are only a couple of questions that you need to ask yourself when 11 fielders are in your face screaming for an appeal. The main thing is to take your time. Remember also the bowlers have 300 balls in an innings in which to get the batsmen out: one marginal or bad call from you and you have ruined the batsman’s Saturday (maybe his or her whole week)! GET IT RIGHT: TAKE YOUR TIME.

1. It is usually obvious that an umpire does not know the LBW law if his finger is already up as the ball makes contact with the pad: and, unfortunately, this DOES happen a lot!

2. The first thing to ask yourself is “did the batsman step (not a foot shuffle or lean) forward in a positive manner to play a shot?”. If he did then he is NOT OUT. (Note this rule is applicable only to NHJC games and may not apply at other grades, including North Harbour Secondary School Cricket and ACA Club Junior Age Group matches).

3. Then remember PIPS for each and every LBW appeal: Pitch, Impact, Played shot, Stumps

a. Where did the ball Pitch? I.e. where did it hit the ground (we will cover full tosses shortly). If it pitched outside the line of leg stump then Not-Out. Otherwise…

b. Where was the FIRST point of Impact? In addition, this is where the full toss comes in. For this question, the height of the impact is irrelevant. If outside the line of leg stump then Not-Out. If in line with the stumps then move onto the ‘S’. If outside off then…

c. Was a shot Played? If yes then Not-Out. Otherwise …

d. Would the ball have hit the Stumps? And this is where an opinion is required. This is the ONLY place in the Laws of Cricket where a decision is made on something that did not actually happen. In all other cases the decision is based on a fact, including the earlier LBW questions. A ball pitched short will most likely go over the top of the stumps. Do not forget that for the questions above we have had only 9” to work in: the wicket width and a ball seaming away will move a fair distance before it reaches the wickets.

4. Many batsmen also think a bowler bowling around the wicket cannot get an LBW. This is not correct (however in coming round the wicket the bowler is reducing the likelihood of him getting a successful LBW decision). If you answer the first 3 questions (and they are based on facts) AND in your opinion the ball would have hit the stumps then the batter is out. If there is any doubt at all then the batter must be given Not-Out.

5. Make it a habit to replay every LBW appeal in your mind asking the above questions. (remembering to watch for subsequent activity such as a potential run-out, or catch: if you think it hit the bat at any stage even after hitting a pad first).

6. Replay it again in your mind if you have to: look for reasons why you should not give the batter out.

THE FIRST QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF IS: HOW CAN I SAVE THE BATSMAN NOT HOW CAN I GIVE HIM OUT.

The LBW decision normally comes very easily as a result if you take your time, favour the batsman if in doubt and follow the above steps.

ISSUED NOVEMBER 2003

NORTH HARBOUR JUNIOR CRICKET