Cricket Umpire Signals: The Complete Guide to Every Signal — Out, Four, Six, Wide, No-Ball, Dead Ball
Cricket umpires communicate decisions through physical signals visible to players, scorers, and crowds. Key signals: Out — index finger raised; Four — arm waved across body; Six — both arms raised overhead; Wide — both arms extended horizontally; No-ball — one arm extended horizontally; Dead ball — both arms crossed below waist; Leg-bye — hand touches raised knee; Bye — hand raised; Five penalty runs — hand touches opposite shoulder. Scorers must confirm each signal by raising their hand.
Cricket umpires use a standardised set of physical signals to communicate decisions to players, scorers, and spectators. These signals were developed because cricket pitches are large — 60–80 metres wide — and verbal communication across the full field is impractical. Each signal corresponds to a specific decision or score, and scorers must confirm each signal by raising their hand before the umpire moves on.
Primary Signals
- Out: index finger of one hand raised upward. The umpire giving the decision raises their finger toward the sky. This is the most iconic signal in cricket.
- Not out: arms shaken from side to side horizontally (sometimes accompanied by 'Not out' called aloud).
- Four: arm waved across the body (right to left or left to right). Indicates 4 boundary runs.
- Six: both arms raised straight above the head. Indicates 6 runs scored over the boundary without bouncing.
- Wide: both arms extended horizontally at shoulder level, palms facing down.
- No-ball: one arm extended horizontally. Often the leg umpire signals first for front-foot no-balls.
- Dead ball: both arms crossed below the waist (X shape). Play is stopped; no runs or dismissals count.
Secondary Signals
- Bye: open hand raised above head. Runs scored without touching the bat.
- Leg-bye: knee touched with hand. Runs scored off the batter's pad/body.
- Five penalty runs (to batting): umpire touches opposite shoulder with one hand.
- Short run: one arm bent upward with a fist, pointing at the end where the short run occurred.
- New ball: new ball held up in the air.
- TV review/Referral: fingers make a rectangle shape (like a TV screen). Indicates the decision is being reviewed by the third umpire.
- Revoke decision: both hands waved downward, palms down — used when the umpire changes an initial signal.
Frequently asked questions
How does the DRS review system interact with umpire signals, and what does the 'TV Umpire Soft Signal' mean?
DRS and the soft signal: how on-field and off-field umpiring interact. The Decision Review System (DRS) interacts with umpire signals in a specific sequence designed to maintain the flow of the game while allowing technological review. The standard DRS process: (1) The umpire makes an on-field decision (Out or Not Out) and signals it. (2) The batting or fielding captain can review the decision by making a 'T' shape with hands. (3) The third umpire (off-field, with access to multiple camera angles, Hawk-Eye, Snickometer, and Hotspot) reviews the decision. (4) If the third umpire finds the original decision was clearly wrong, they overturn it. If it is marginal (within the uncertainty zone), the original decision stands — this is the 'Umpire's Call' principle. The 'Soft Signal' controversy: In catches, when there is genuine doubt about whether a fielder cleanly caught the ball (or whether the catch was grounded or the ball bounced), the on-field umpire gives a 'soft signal' before referring to the third umpire. If the umpire soft-signals 'Out', the third umpire needs clear evidence that the fielder grounded the ball to overturn it. If the soft signal is 'Not Out', the third umpire needs clear evidence of a clean catch to overturn it. The soft signal became controversial in 2021–2022: in several high-profile catches (Jos Buttler at the 2021 T20 WC), the soft signal seemed to override what looked like an obvious catch or obvious no-catch. The ICC reviewed the soft signal system and in 2023 removed it for catches — the third umpire now makes the catch judgment independently without a prior field signal. This changed the DRS review process for catches specifically. The TV Review signal: the umpire forms a rectangle with fingers and thumbs (simulating a TV screen) to indicate a decision is going to the third umpire. This signals the players and crowd that the decision is under review. If the review finds the original decision correct, the umpire re-signals the same call. If overturned, the umpire revokes the original signal with the palm-down wave and signals the new decision.