The Cricket Appeal Explained — How 'Howzat!' Works
No umpire can give a batter out unless the fielding side appeals. Learn what a cricket appeal is, why bowlers shout 'Howzat', what happens when an appeal isn't made, and the rules around withdrawing appeals.
In cricket, the fielding side must appeal to the umpire before a batter can be given out. No matter how obvious the dismissal appears — a clean bowled, an lbw trap, a clear caught-behind — the umpire will not raise their finger unless the fielding team asks. The traditional exclamation is 'Howzat!' — a contraction of 'How is that?'
When must the fielding side appeal?
An appeal must be made for every mode of dismissal: bowled, lbw, caught, stumped, run out, hit wicket, handled the ball, obstructed the field, hit the ball twice, and timed out. For a run out or stumping, the wicketkeeper or fielder typically breaks the stumps and then appeals simultaneously — but the umpire will not rule the batter out unless the appeal is clear.
Who can appeal?
Any member of the fielding team can make an appeal — not just the wicketkeeper or bowler. However, the captain is ultimately responsible for any appeal and can choose to withdraw it (see below). In practice, the bowler and wicketkeeper lead the appeal for most dismissals.
Withdrawing an appeal
A captain can withdraw an appeal after it has been made but before the umpire responds — or even after the umpire gives the batter out. This is generally done as a sporting gesture if the fielding side feels the batter was the victim of bad luck (e.g. accidentally hitting the stumps with the bat while playing a shot). Recalled dismissals are rare but celebrated as acts of sportsmanship.
DRS and appeals
Under the Decision Review System (DRS), a team can review the umpire's decision after an appeal has been made. However, DRS cannot be triggered for a dismissal unless the fielding team first appealed and the umpire ruled not out — or the batting team wants to challenge an out decision. You cannot use DRS to effectively make a retroactive appeal.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Howzat' mean in cricket?
'Howzat' is a contraction of 'How is that?' It is the traditional exclamation fielding players shout to appeal to the umpire, asking whether the batter is out. The umpire then decides and signals accordingly.
Can the umpire give a batter out without an appeal?
No. Under the Laws of Cricket, a batter cannot be given out unless the fielding side makes an appeal. The one exception is a timed-out dismissal, which can be initiated by the batting side failing to appear on time.
What happens if the fielding team forgets to appeal?
If the fielding side does not appeal before the next delivery is bowled, the opportunity is gone. The umpire cannot retrospectively give a batter out. This is why bowlers often appeal instinctively as soon as anything happens near the stumps.
Can a captain recall a dismissed batter?
Yes. A captain can withdraw an appeal after it has been upheld by the umpire, effectively 'recalling' the batter. This is a sportsmanship gesture and is entirely voluntary — the umpire's decision stands unless the captain explicitly withdraws it.