Cricket Appeals Explained — How Umpires Decide and When to Review
How the appeal process works in cricket: why batters can only be given out when appealed for, how the umpire signals decisions, and when captains use the DRS to review an umpire call.
In cricket, a batter cannot be given out by the umpire unless the fielding team first makes an appeal — typically by shouting 'Howzat!' (a corruption of 'How is that?'). This is Law 31 of The Laws of Cricket. Without an appeal, the umpire cannot give the batter out, even if the dismissal is clear. The appeal must be made before the next ball is bowled.
How the Umpire Decides
After an appeal, the on-field umpire must decide immediately — they do not have unlimited time to consider the decision. For straightforward decisions (a clear bowled or a ball hitting the boundary), the decision is instant. For close decisions (an LBW or a possible catch), the umpire may take several seconds. The umpire signals 'Out' by raising the index finger; 'Not Out' is signalled by shaking the head or waving the hand horizontally.
The DRS (Decision Review System)
After the umpire makes a decision, either the batting batter (for an 'Out' decision) or the fielding captain (for a 'Not Out' decision) can request a DRS review. The requesting captain or batter must make a T-sign gesture with their hands within 15 seconds of the umpire's decision. The third umpire then reviews ball-tracking (for LBW), frame-by-frame footage (for catches), and UltraEdge (for snickometer) before giving a final verdict.
Umpire's Call
Umpire's call is a DRS outcome where ball-tracking shows the ball would have hit the stumps but only marginally — within the defined uncertainty zone. In this case, the umpire's original decision stands, regardless of what the review suggests. If the original decision was 'Out', the batter remains out; if the original was 'Not Out', the batter remains in. Critically, the reviewing team retains their DRS review after an Umpire's Call — they are not penalised for marginal decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Howzat' mean in cricket?
Howzat is a cricket appeal — a contraction of 'How is that?' directed at the umpire. It is shouted by the fielding team to request the umpire to rule on a possible dismissal. Under the Laws, an appeal must be made before the batter can be given out. The umpire then signals their decision.
What happens if a team runs out of DRS reviews?
If a team has used both their DRS reviews (in Test cricket) and believes another decision is wrong, they cannot challenge it — the umpire's original decision stands. Teams must carefully choose which decisions are worth reviewing, typically reserving reviews for close LBW decisions or uncertain catches.
Can the umpire make a decision without being asked?
No — under the Laws, the umpire cannot give a batter out without an appeal from the fielding team. However, in some circumstances (like a clear no-ball), the umpire proactively calls the infringement. An umpire who gives a batter out without an appeal has made an error under the Laws, though this is extremely rare in professional cricket.