UMPIRES AND REFREES

Two umpires are appointed one on each end (bowlers end and strikers end) to control the game. The umpires shall take positions from where they can easily see any act upon which their decision may be required. The umpire at the strikers end may elect to stand on the off instead of leg side of the pitch. The umpires shall change the ends after each side has had one innings.

Duties of the Umpire

The umpire should ensure that the game is conducted and the equipments used is strictly in accordance with the laws. They should make sure that the wickets are properly pitched, whether the ground is fit for the play and whether there is appropriate light for play. Umpires shall make frequent and regular inspections of the condition of the ball. If there is any dispute regarding the use of the ball, the umpire shall change the ball after consultation and the ball must be of similar condition to that in use. An umpire may consult with the other umpire on a point of fact which the latter may have been in a better position to see and shall then given his decision. If the doubt remains after consultation, the decision shall be given in favour of the batsman. All disputes shall be determined by the umpires. The umpires decision is final and he may alter his decision.

Third Umpire

The third umpire or the TV umpire as he also known is an off-field umpire who usually gives his decision when the on-field umpires are unsure. The third umpire sits off the field, with a television replay monitor. The field umpire can use his discretion to refer a close decision to the third umpire to refer to dismissal of a batsman, catches or boundaries via a wireless set or a signal light system.

The third umpire looks at various TV replays from different angles and comes to a conclusion by pressing the appropriate signal. A red light indicates that the batsman is out and a green one otherwise. In the event that the TV umpire too is unable to get a clear picture, the benefit of the doubt again goes to the batsman. Over the years, the TV umpire has been asked to assist in dismissals such as run-outs, stumped, caught and hit-wicket.


Signals used by the Umpire



















Boundary :


By waving the arm from side to side

Boundary for six :


By raising both arms above the head

Bye :


By raising an open hand above the head

Dead ball :


By crossing and re-crossing the wrists below the waist

No ball :


By extending one arm horizontally

Short run :


By bending the arm upwards and by touching the nearer shoulder with the tips of the fingers

Out :


By raising the index finger above the head. If not out, the umpire shall call not out

Leg bye :


By touching a raised knee with the hand

Wide :


By extending both arms horizontally

Dead Ball

The umpire shall call and signal dead ball when

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a serious injury to a player or an umpire occurs
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in a case of unfair play
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the bowler drops the ball accidentally before the delivery or the ball does not leave his hand
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the striker is not ready to receive the ball and makes no attempt to play it and before the delivery
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one or both bails fall from the striker's wicket

Match Referee

A Match referee is an official who administrates a Professional cricket match, by watching the game from outside the field. The referee makes no decisions of relevance to the outcome of the game, but he has the power to fine players and/or teams for unethical play. In professional games, these penalties are monetary fines and/or suspension from subsequent matches

History

The origin of the game Cricket was gradual. It evolved from various sources like a Scottish sport known as 'cat-and-dog' and a thirteenth century pass-time called 'hand in and hand out'. The game which is played today has its origin in the south eastern part of England. Cricket became a generally adopted sport in the second half of the seventeenth century. The Hambeldon club which is founded in about 1750 had played a significant part in the evolution of the game. It was superseded by the Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C) with its headquarters at Lords, London. This became the world authority of the sport and its sanctuary. An official country championships began in England in 1873 and it became an International game with the formation of the Imperial Cricket Conference (I.C.C) in 1909. The I.C.C membership was confined only to the British Commonwealth countries. In 1956, the name of Imperial Cricket Conference was changed to International Cricket Conference to enable countries outside the common wealth to become its members.

Prince Ranjit singhCricket was brought to India by the British. In the beginning the game was played amongst the British nationals. Later it struck deep roots in the Indian soil as a result of the patronage extended to it by the ruling class and the princely households. By the beginning of the 19th century, cricket became popular in the cities of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. An England team toured India in 1902-03. An All-India team went on a tour of England in 1911 under Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The Indian cricket control board came into being towards the end of 1928. With the efforts of several Indian princes, H.E. Grant Goven and A.S.De Mellow, the national championship for the Ranji Trophy began in 1935. India entered the international arena and played its first official Test against England in 1932.

Meanwhile Prince Ranjit Singhji of Nawanagar who had gone to England for further study, made a remarkable name for himself in the game of cricket. He is generally acknowledged as the Father of Indian Cricket although he played only in England. He will always be remembered through the National Cricket Championship - Ranji Trophy, named after him.

About Cricket

Cricket is a ball game played by two teams consisting of eleven players on a pitch with two sets of three stumps (wickets). The bowler bowls the ball down the pitch to the batsman of the opposing team, who must defend the wicket in front of which he stands. The object of the game is to score as many runs as possible. Runs can be scored individually by running the length of the playing strip, or by hitting a ball which lands outside the boundary (six runs) or which lands inside the boundary but bounces or rolls outside (four runs). The opposing team will bowl and field, attempting to dismiss the batsmen.

Each team plays under a captain. The captain should nominate his players before the match. The order in which the teams bat is determined by a coin toss. The two captains of each team will toss for the choice of innings before the match. The captain of the side winning the toss may elect to bat or field first. Once the winner of the toss notify his decision to bat or to field to the opposing captain thereafter the decision shall not be altered. All eleven players of the fielding team go out to field, two players of the batting team go out to bat. The remaining of the batting team wait off the field for their turn to bat.

A match consists of one or two innings and each innings ends when the specified number of overs ( a series of six balls bowled) have been played, or when the captain of the batting team "declares" ending the innings voluntarily. Innings is a division of a game during which a side is in or batting.

Equipments And Field

There are certain rules regarding the measurement of the ball, bat, pitch, wicket and the creases. There is a boundary for the playing area. The boundary is marked either by a white line, a rope laid on the ground or a fence. Sometimes flags and posts are used instead of a boundary line.

The Ball

The ball will be leather skinned and its weight must not be less than 155.9gms and not more than 163gms. The circumference of the ball must be in between 22.4cm and 22.9cm.

The Bat

Usually a wooden bat of weight 2 lb 40z is used. It should be 10.8cm in width and 96.5cm in length including the handle.

The Wickets

Each wicket is 22.80cm in width and consist of three wooden stumps with two wooden bails on the top. The wickets should be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of 20.12m between the center of the two middle stump. The stumps stand 70cm tall and each bail is 11.1cm in length.

The Pitch

The pitch is at the center of the field. It is the area of the ground between the bowling creases one on either side and it is 3.04m in width and 17.68m in length. The pitch shall not be changed during a match unless it becomes unfit for play.

Bowling and Popping Creases

The bowling crease is marked in line with the stumps at each end and is 2.64m in length. The popping crease which is the back edge of the crease marking, is in front of and parallel with the bowling crease. The back edge of the crease is 1.22m from the center of the stumps and extended to a minimum of 1.83m on either side of the line of the wicket. The return crease is marked at each end of the bowling crease at right angles to it and extend forward to join the popping crease and a minimum of 1.22m behind the wicket.

Rules

Game Protocol :

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The umpire's decision during a game is final in all matters that means no arguing with the umpire, even though you may be sure of his misjudgment. However this is rare these days due to the presence of the third umpire.
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The rules of cricket define dismissals and if you know you're out within that definition, you are morally obliged to aid the umpire and walk, even though the umpire may have missed the judgment.
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Bowlers are not allowed to tamper with the ball in any way. They can polish the ball by rubbing it with cloth, drying or removing mud from the ball and applying saliva or sweat to it. Any other substance is illegal, as is rubbing the ball on the ground and tampering with the seams..
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Members of the fielding team cannot distract the batsmen while he is batting. If in case they do that, the umpire can call a dead ball and award five penalty runs to the batting side's total.
* Bowler should not keep bowling short or high pitched balls which could cause injury to the batsmen. In such cases, the umpire can call a no ball and warn the bowler.
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Players in any innings should not waste time in any way. If they do that the umpire first warns the Captain of the offending team and if it continues then five runs are awarded for the other team.
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The new batsman making their way to the wicket is to be applauded.
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All players are responsible to avoid unnecessary damage to the pitch during play. If a fielder damages the pitch then a caution will be issued to the fielding captain. Any repeat action from any fielder during the innings and the umpire will add five runs to the batting side's total. A batsman who damages the pitch will be cautioned by the umpire. If they do it a second time in the same innings, they'll get a final warning and any runs scored from that delivery, other than no balls or wides, will be disallowed.
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Any attempt made to steal a run will see five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side.

Ways in which batsman is dismissed:

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A batsman is bowled (out) if the ball hits the wicket and dislodges either bail from the top of the stumps.
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A batsman is out LBW (Leg Before Wicket) if the ball hits the batsman on his pads and in the opinion of the umpire it was pitched on a straight line between the wicket or on the off side and would hit the wicket.
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A batsman is out hit wicket if a ball is dislodged by his bat, body or cap while he is in the act of making his stroke.
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A batsman is out if he hits the ball twice.
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An incoming batsman shall be out if he takes more time to come in. Usually two or three minutes being timed from the moment a wicket falls until the new batsman steps on to the field of play.
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The batsman shall be caught out if the ball hit by him is caught by any fielder before it touches the ground.
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The batsman shall be stumped out when he is out of his crease when the ball is being bowled and the wicket is put down by the wicket keeper.
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The batsman is run out when he is out of his crease while attempting a run and his wicket is put down by any player of the opposite side.

Appeal

Appeal is the call of the umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out. If an appeal is not made by the fielding side before the bowler delivers the next ball, the umpires shall not give a batsman out.

On appeal, either batsman shall be given out obstructing the field if he willfully obstructs the opposite side by work or action or he willfully obstruct a fielder and prevent a catch being made.