Umpires, scorers and playing conditions

Laws 2–3 — Officials and agreements

Two impartial umpires control the match, one at each end, and two scorers record runs, wickets and, where relevant, overs. Umpires must attend at least 45 minutes before each day’s scheduled start. Before the toss they establish the ball, playing hours, intervals, official clocks, boundaries, covers and special playing conditions. Relevant agreements go to the scorers.

Umpires check creases, wickets, boundaries and permitted equipment. They decide questions of fair play and resolve disputes together. A decision may be corrected promptly, subject to the prohibition on revoking a Dead ball call; otherwise it is final.

Law 2 — Weather, light and safety

The umpires decide whether conditions make play dangerous or unreasonable. Imperfect conditions alone are insufficient: a wet ball or wet grass does not automatically stop play. A foreseeable safety risk, or conditions in which proceeding would not be sensible, can justify suspension. Slippery ground preventing reasonable bowling footholds, free fielding movement or batting and running is unacceptable.

Either umpire may require an immediate suspension. During the stoppage the umpires inspect without players or officials accompanying them, and resume once both agree conditions are suitable.

Laws 2–3 — Signals and accurate records

Scorers acknowledge each signal separately; the umpire waits for that acknowledgement before play continues. The records are checked frequently and agreed with the umpires at intervals other than drinks and at the end. Multiple sanctions generally apply independently; if they conflict, the earlier offence takes priority unless a Law says otherwise.

• A raised index finger means Out; one horizontal arm means No ball; two horizontal arms mean Wide.
• A sweeping arm signals a boundary 4; both arms raised signal a boundary 6.
• An open hand above the head signals Bye; touching a raised knee signals Leg bye.
• Umpires change ends after each side has completed one innings. A replacement umpire normally acts at the striker’s end unless the captains agree otherwise.