How Do Cricket Umpires Count Ball?

     

Billy Bowden: Ex — Cricket Umpire
Image Source: Internet

In this article, I'm jotting down few words about a major but mostly neglected part of cricket which is of interest and concern for many cricket lovers which are:

• How cricket umpires keep a track of number of fair deliveries in an over?

• What regular actions do umpires follow while officiating in a cricket match?

• What sort of tools or equipment they use to count the number of fair deliveries?

• What sort of assistance do umpire at bowlers end get from Square leg-umpire?

We will explore all these in this article.

    In Cricket of all categories and almost every form of cricket, an over must include six authentic deliveries omitting a playing condition which revoke that rule. It is necessary for an Umpire to tally six legal balls in a row excluding the wides and no-balls before signaling completion of an over. It depends on umpires when to count the ball, Some prefer to count before the ball being released whereas some prefer to count after ball becomes dead (Here, ball becomes dead when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or bowler/when a boundary is scored/when a batsman is dismissed). Cricket Umpires use pebbles, coins, or counting device to tally the number of balls in an over. We'll discuss all of them one by one.

1. Traditional Counting method: Earlier, the cricket umpires used six coins or pebbles to count the number of deliveries. Umpires used to take six pebbles/coins at one hand (say left) before over starts. As soon as the bowler delivers a right delivery, he transfers one coin or pebble to right hand. When second delivery is fairly bowled, he again passes one pebble from left hand to right hand and so on. However, this method of ball counting is now only used in Gully crickets.

2. Hand tally counter: Also called as Sheep counter by few, this counter has four major components —

 i) Finger Loop

ii) Lever

iii) Knob

iv) Display Meter

The finger Loop is used to hold the counter, the lever is used to count the number of balls bowled and the knob is used to reset these numbers. These counters have only one display. In order to record six deliveries, umpires press the lever six times. It now displays the number of balls being bowled. To record an over, umpires click the same lever four times which now shows that an over has been bowled.

1^st  ball      :     0001      (Over 0.1)

2^nd  ball    :     0002     (Over 0.2)

3^rd   ball    :     0003     (Over 0.3)

.

.

6^th  ball     :     0006

1 over         :     0010     (Over 1.0)

Similarly, for the second over, Umpire will press the lever six times for the six deliveries and in order to record the second over they would have to press the lever four times which now displays 0020 which means two overs have been bowled.

7^th   ball     :     0011      (Over 1.1)

 8^th  ball     :     0012     (Over 1.2)

 9^th  ball     :     0013     (Over 1.3)

.

.

12^th ball     :     0016

2 overs       :     0020     (Over 2.0)

This counter has got four units- the first unit will always be used for ball Counting and the rest of the units will be used to record the number of overs. Without help of any external energy source (eg: battery), this counter has intrinsically mechanical structure, displaying four digits accurately. To reset the readings, umpire Only rotates the knob in clockwise direction. Nowadays, this counter is rarely used in international cricket. However it is used widely at local level cricket as it is cheap. Apart from cricket it has wide application for any occasion which demands a counter such as Sports Coaching, Knitting, Crocheting, Children Education, Fishing, Events, Warehouse, Sheep Counting, School & Office, etc.

3. Umpire's Counter: This counter allows umpires to keep track of the number of deliveries, the number of overs and the wickets unlike the hand tally counter.

This is a basic and functional counter with scroll wheels for each of the displays. The good thing about this counter is that the ball count is limited to six only so that after the movement of scroll wheel six times, it will bring the counter back to zero. In order to update the over numbers, Umpires should use the scroll wheels on either side of this counter. Just rotate the counter until it clicks, and that's another ball done. Keeping track of wickets and overs is useful to assist the scorers if there is any confusion, ensuring umpires are on the ball at times.  As a standard practice, after every four valid deliveries in an over, the Umpire at the bowlers end shows this

(two to go) signal to their partner at the other end which is the strikers end or Square leg position. Now the Umpire at the other end reciprocates the same signal of  (two to go) to confirm the remaining number of deliveries in that over in case of any wide, no balls, dismissals or any other interruptions. Both umpires always confirm the number of deliveries remaining in that over and it is a high level team technique which involves working cooperatively with on field umpires to verify decisions and support each other. It builds great teamwork and is an excellent way to remain focused. Below is a responsive table in which it is explained clearly to which what signal at what time by whom:

What	How	Who (Bowlers end/Leg)
One ball remaining (to be an over)	By using the index finger pointing downwards across the chest, or against trousers.	Both Umpires
Two balls remaining (to be an over)	Two fingers in a V, usually against background of trousers, for contrast (but can be held out to the side to avoid obstructions of line of sight).	Both Umpires
Three balls remaining (to be an over)	By using the hand signal with the Palm either upwards or downwards kept at the waist level.	Both Umpires
Four balls remaining (to be an over)	By using four fingers pointing downwards.	Both Umpires
Five balls remaining (to be an over)	By using the high five signal.	Both Umpires
Six balls remaining (to be an over)	By showing each other the fist signal	Both Umpires

Umpires plays crucial role to conduct a cricket match but their work and dedication are always forgotten and are criticized by to their minor wrong decision. It's important for all cricket lovers to applaud Umpires for their selfless duty.

— Omnath Pokharel

References:

1. Muhammad Qureshi

2. Mornington Peninsula Cricket Umpire Association

3. The Laws of Cricket | MCC

4. All Images Used Above: Internet