Umpire’s toolkit: Some of the most commonly used devices by umpires

The job of an on-field umpire is the most tedious of all tasks that are done in the cricket field. It is a job that requires the highest levels of concentration. Be it starting the match on time, checking if a bowler has over-stepped or giving the correct decision to an LBW appeal, an umpire’s job is a monotonous and difficult one.

The advent of technology, to a larger extent, does not make his life easier. His endless job list includes keeping track of the number of balls bowled, checking the size of the ball and checking the lighting in the field. There are a few devices that help him in this regard. They are listed below.

#1 The Umpire counter:

It is a device used by the umpire to keep track of the number of balls bowled by a bowler in an over. The image above shows the different kinds of umpire counters. As seen in the image, the device consists of a rotatable wheel, which on rotated increases the ball count.

In the same manner, it also has wheels to keep track of the overs bowled and wickets that have fallen. The umpire after every ball is bowled has to rotate the wheel that increases the ball count and after every over has to increase the wheel that is responsible for the overcount.

This device can count up to 99 overs and that makes it suitable to use it in any format of the game. Moreover, the wheels in the device can only be rotated in one direction so that the user doesn't get confused and rotate in the opposite direction.

This is one device that has undergone many changes as the game has evolved. Before this device was used, umpires used marbles to count the number of balls. The umpire would have six marbles in one hand and after each ball is bowled, he moves one marble to the other hand. When the marble count reduces to zero it signifies that one over is complete.

#2 The ball gauge

It is important even for a ball to maintain its shape, else it will have to be changed. The ball gauge is an instrument that is used to check the shape of the ball. It consists of two rings. One has the minimum acceptable diameter and the other ring has the maximum acceptable diameter mandated by the laws of cricket.

The ball that is put under test should not pass through the minimum acceptable diameter ring whereas it should pass through the maximum diameter ring. If it fails any of the above conditions the ball is subject to change.

Previously used ball gauges were like handcuffs with only the minimum and maximum diameter ring. The one that is shown in the image is being used now. It has additional functionalities that are used to check the spacings between the stumps, the length of a bail and blade size of the bat according to the laws of cricket. Well, this is such an all-rround tool that comes in handy for the on-field umpires.

#3 The Umpire light meter

This is one device a cricket viewer would not like to see. This device is called the light meter and is used to check the lighting levels in the field. The umpire generally stands in the middle of the field and points this device in all the directions to see if the conditions are suitable to play.

The device uses photo-voltaic sensors to measure light. The photovoltaic sensors produce a voltage corresponding to the amount of light. If bad light stops play, it means that the light meter has shown a value of around 3.5. However, this is just an indicative value and the final call is taken by the umpire. There is no hard and fast rule regarding the light meter value and till today it has been a subject of debate.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram