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LAW 3 THE UMPIRES
4. To inform captains and scorers
5. The wickets, creases and boundaries
6. Conduct of the game, implements and equipment
8. Fitness of ground, weather and light
9. Suspension of play for adverse conditions of ground, weather or light
13. Consultation between umpires
Before the match, two umpires shall be appointed, one for each end, to control the
game as required by the Laws, with absolute impartiality. The umpires shall be
present on the ground and report to the Executive of the ground at least 45
minutes before the scheduled start of each day’s play.
An umpire shall not be changed during the match, other than in exceptional
circumstances, unless he is injured or ill. If there has to be a change of umpire,
the replacement shall act only as the striker’s end umpire unless the captains agree
that he should take full responsibility as an umpire.
Before the toss the umpires shall
(a) ascertain the hours of play and agree with the captains
(i) the balls to be used during the match. See Law 5 (The ball).
(ii) times and durations of intervals for meals and times for drinks
intervals. See Law 15 (Intervals).
(iii) the boundary of the field of play and allowances for boundaries. See
Law 19 (Boundaries).
(iv) any special conditions of play affecting the conduct of the match.
(b) inform the scorers of the agreements in (ii), (iii) and (iv) above.
4. To inform captains and scorers
Before the toss the umpires shall agree between themselves and inform both
captains and both scorers
(i) which clock or watch and back-up time piece is to be used during the
match.
(ii) whether or not any obstacle within the field of play is to be regarded as a
boundary. See Law 19 (Boundaries).
5. The wickets, creases and boundaries
Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that
(i) the wickets are properly pitched. See Law 8 (The wickets).
(ii) the creases are correctly marked. See Law 9 (The bowling, popping
and return creases).
(iii) the boundary of the field of play complies with the requirements of
Law 19.2 (Defining the boundary – boundary marking).
6. Conduct of the game, implements and equipment
Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that
(a) the conduct of the game is strictly in accordance with the Laws.
(b) the implements of the game conform to the requirements of Laws 5 (The ball)
and 6 (The bat), together with either Laws 8.2 (Size of stumps) and 8.3 (The bails)
or, if appropriate, Law 8.4 (Junior cricket).
(c) (i) no player uses equipment other than that permitted. See Appendix D.
(ii) the wicket-keeper’s gloves comply with the requirements of Law 40.2
(Gloves).
The umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
8. Fitness of ground, weather and light
The umpires shall be the final judges of the fitness of the ground, weather and
light for play. See 9 below and Law 7.2 (Fitness of the pitch for play).
9. Suspension of play for adverse conditions of ground, weather or light
(a) (i) All references to ground include the pitch. See Law 7.1 (Area of
pitch).
(ii) For the purpose of this Law and Law 15.9(b)(ii) (Intervals for drinks)
only, the batsmen at the wicket may deputise for their captain at any
appropriate time.
(b) If at any time the umpires together agree that the condition of the ground,
weather or light is not suitable for play, they shall inform the captains and, unless
(i) in unsuitable ground or weather conditions both captains agree to
continue, or to commence, or to restart play,
or (ii) in unsuitable light the batting side wish to continue, or to commence,
or to restart play, they shall suspend play, or not allow play to commence or to restart.
(c) (i) After agreeing to play in unsuitable ground or weather conditions,
either captain may appeal against the conditions to the umpires before
the next call of Time. The umpires shall uphold the appeal only if, in
their opinion, the factors taken into account when making their
previous decision are the same or the conditions have further deteriorated.
(ii) After deciding to play in unsuitable light, the captain of the batting side
may appeal against the light to the umpires before the next call of
Time. The umpires shall uphold the appeal only if, in their opinion,
the factors taken into account when making their previous decision are
the same or the condition of the light has further deteriorated.
(d) If at any time the umpires together agree that the conditions of ground,
weather or light are so bad that there is obvious and foreseeable risk to the safety
of any player or umpire, so that it would be unreasonable or dangerous for play to
take place, then notwithstanding the provisions of (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above, they
shall immediately suspend play, or not allow play to commence or to restart. The
decision as to whether conditions are so bad as to warrant such action is one for
the umpires alone to make.
The fact that the grass and the ball are wet and slippery does not warrant the
ground conditions being regarded as unreasonable or dangerous. If the umpires
consider the ground is so wet or slippery as to deprive the bowler of a reasonable
foothold, the fielders of the power of free movement, or the batsmen of the ability
to play their strokes or to run between the wickets, then these conditions shall be
regarded as so bad that it would be unreasonable for play to take place.
(e) When there is a suspension of play it is the responsibility of the umpires to
monitor the conditions. They shall make inspections as often as appropriate,
unaccompanied by any of the players or officials. Immediately the umpires
together agree that conditions are suitable for play they shall call upon the players
to resume the game.
(f) If play is in progress up to the start of an agreed interval then it will resume
after the interval unless the umpires together agree that conditions are or have
become unsuitable or dangerous. If they do so agree, then they shall implement
the procedure in (b) or (d) above, as appropriate, whether or not there had been
any decision by the captains to continue, or any appeal against the conditions by
either captain, prior to the commencement of the interval.
The umpires shall have the discretion to implement the procedures of 9 above for
reasons other than ground, weather or light if they consider that exceptional
circumstances warrant it.
The umpires shall stand where they can best see any act upon which their decision
may be required.
Subject to this over-riding consideration the umpire at the bowler’s end shall stand
where he does not interfere with either the bowler’s run up or the striker’s view.
The umpire at the striker’s end may elect to stand on the off side instead of the on
side of the pitch, provided he informs the captain of the fielding side, the striker
and the other umpire of his intention to do so.
The umpires shall change ends after each side has had one completed innings.
See Law 14.2 (Forfeiture of an innings).
13. Consultation between umpires
All disputes shall be determined by the umpires. The umpires shall consult with
each other whenever necessary. See also Law 27.6 (Consultation by umpires).
(a) The following code of signals shall be used by umpires.
(i) Signals made while the ball is in play
Dead ball - by crossing and re-crossing the wrists
below the waist.
No ball - by extending one arm horizontally.
Out - by raising an index finger above the
head. (If not out the umpire shall call
Not out.)
Wide - by extending both arms horizontally.
(ii) When the ball is dead, the signals above, with the exception of the
signal for Out, shall be repeated to the scorers. The signals listed
below shall be made to the scorers only when the ball is dead.
Boundary 4 - by waving an arm from side to side
finishing with the arm across the chest.
Boundary 6 - by raising both arms above the head.
Bye - by raising an open hand above the
head.
Commencement of last hour - by pointing to a raised wrist with the
other hand.
Five penalty runs awarded - by repeated tapping of one shoulder
to the batting side with the opposite hand.
Five penalty runs awarded - by placing one hand on the opposite
to the fielding side shoulder.
Leg bye - by touching a raised knee with the
hand.
New ball - by holding the ball above the head.
Revoke last signal - by touching both shoulders, each with
the opposite hand.
Short run - by bending one arm upwards and
touching the nearer shoulder with the
tips of the fingers.
(b) The umpires shall wait until each signal to the scorers has been separately
acknowledged by a scorer before allowing play to proceed.
Consultation between umpires and scorers on doubtful points is essential. The
umpires shall satisfy themselves as to the correctness of the number of runs
scored, the wickets that have fallen and, where appropriate, the number of overs
bowled. They shall agree these with the scorers at least at every interval, other
than a drinks interval, and at the conclusion of the match. See Laws 4.2
(Correctness of scores), 21.8 (Correctness of result) and 21.10 (Result not to be
changed).