The umpiring signals and their significance

The umpires who are in charge of the cricket game, use an array of signals to signify the conclusions they come to during the course of a game. These are the very important and significant also. Study here, the interesting facts about the umpiring signals and their significance:

• The outstretching of right arm: No-ball. This sign is the indication of the bowler’s landing of the foot over the front line of the bowling crease and the delivery is considered as no-ball.

• Both arms outstretched: Wide. This signal suggests that the ball is out of range of the batsman or woman and has been regarded as being a wide. One run is added to the batting team as an extra score, and the ball is repeated.

• Right leg raised and clasped by the right hand: Leg byes. This sign indicates that the ball didn’t hit the bat, but the pads of the batsman, and that the runs completed are considered as leg byes. These runs are credited to the teams score, not to the individual player.

• Right arm raised skywards: Byes. This shows that the ball has been missed by both the batsmen and the wicket-keeper. Any runs scored are considered to be byes and also counted as extras like leg byes.

• Right hand and arm swept across the body:  Four runs. This gesture suggests that the ball has been hit to the boundary thoroughly. The ball has sprung on its way to the border line, and four runs have been scored by the batsman.

• Both arms held above the head with index fingers outstretched: Six runs. The ball has been hit over the boundary, without the ball bouncing. Six runs are awarded for this fabulous achievement.

• Index finger raised towards the batsman: Out. The batsman has to leave the crease when the umpire gives the batsman out. They leave the crease and take the long, lonesome walk back to the pavilion.

• Right arm held at out horizontally, then flexed back to touch the shoulder: Short run. If one of the batsmen fails to touch their bat down beyond the front line of the bowling crease while go for a run, this is declared as short run. The scorer is asked to take that run off the score.