The Square Leg Umpire in Cricket: Role and Responsibilities

In professional cricket, two on-field umpires officiate every match. The main umpire stands at the bowler's end to judge the most decisions; the second umpire stands at square leg — roughly level with the crease on the leg side. Each has specific responsibilities that together ensure complete coverage of the pitch.

What the Square Leg Umpire Decides

The square leg umpire has primary responsibility for: run-outs at the striker's end; stumpings (though these are usually referred upstairs immediately); judging whether a catch is clean at square leg or deep square leg fielding positions; and signalling wides that travel down the leg side. They also call and signal no-balls when the bowler's end umpire cannot see clearly.

Supporting the Main Umpire

The square leg umpire supports the main umpire with difficult decisions on their side of the field. When a catch is taken at short leg or square leg, the square leg umpire is better positioned to judge whether the fielder grounded the ball. Similarly, on run-out appeals at their end, they signal out or not out immediately.

Changing Ends

Umpires swap ends every over so that each umpire alternates between the bowler's end (where the main decisions are made) and square leg. This prevents one umpire from standing in the bright sun or into the wind for the entire match, and keeps both umpires equally alert throughout the day.