What is umpire’s call in cricket? A Simple Explanation

An umpire’s call is used when the third umpire cannot reach a decision on one of three factors of an LBW decision: ball pitch, ball impact, and whether the ball would have reached the wickets. In such instances, the third umpire follows the decision of the on-field umpire, which is known as the umpire’s call.

If that sounds perplexing, it is. But don’t worry, that’s precisely what this essay is about. In simple terms, I will explain what an umpire’s call is and how it affects the third umpire’s decision and the game of cricket in general.

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What is the DRS in Cricket?

DRS, or Decision Review System, was introduced in 2008 to allow teams to refer decisions to the third umpire when the batsman or bowling team captain requests it.

The DRS enables the third umpire to be referred LBW or Caught judgments. The third umpire then uses a combination of technologies, such as Hawkeye, Hotspot and Snickometer, or Ultra edge, to check for the decision.

Hawkeye is mostly used to predict the ball’s future trajectory after it is intercepted by the bat or the striker himself. It is possible to tell whether the ball struck the bat using the Hotspot, Snickometer, or Ultra-edge.

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Explained: What is umpire’s call in cricket?

The on-field umpire’s initial decision on a leg-before-wicket (LBW) that was contested and reviewed is simply given the benefit of the doubt under the term “umpire’s call.” This occurs after the third umpire determines that the initial judgment was too tenuous to be decided otherwise following the review.

When the batsman who was bowled out signals for a review using his hands, or his hand and bat, he can appeal an LBW ruling. It can also be contested when the fielding team asks for a review after an on-field umpire’s judgment is rendered against them.

The third umpire must then evaluate the LBW in terms of three different factors, including the ball pitch, the ball impact, and whether or not the ball will strike the stumps based on Hawkeye.

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Also Read: How Many Different Types of Deliveries Are There in Cricket Bowling? (cricfiles.com)