How to Become A Cricket Umpire In South Africa

In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make decisions about events on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket.

Who is umpire in cricket game?

Overview. Traditionally, cricket matches have two umpires on the field, one standing at the end where the bowler delivers the ball (Bowler’s end), and one directly opposite the facing batsman (usually, but not always, at square leg).

What is the salary of umpire in cricket?

These elite umpires get a sum of 2,26,540 for an ODI, Rs 3,77,567 per Test match and Rs 1,13,270 for a T20I appearance. Not only this, they enjoy a sum of Rs 75,51,350 as an annual salary. Apart from the income, the ICC umpires qualify to travel across the world for business purposes completely free of cost.

What are the two umpires in cricket called?

One umpire stands behind the stumps at the bowler’s end of the pitch, while the other umpire stands at square leg. At international level there is also a third umpire on the sidelines and a match referee.

How to Become A Cricket Umpire In South Africa

There are courses that cover umpiring basics, including key laws and basic umpiring requirements on the field of play. Such courses are usually available free of charge and are useful to you if you wish to umpire matches at a recreational level or at matches that no umpires have been appointed to officiate.

To get to the next stage, you would need to attend a more advanced course that will help you learn how to manage matches and work as a team with a colleague. Before you can become an accredited umpire, you would need to take an exam that will test your level of knowledge. 

An important part of umpiring is the use of hand movements to signal what is going on in a game, such as no balls, wides, fours, sixes, free hits and so on. The precision and correctness of your call will add to your competence as an umpire, as spectators who are out of earshot may not hear an umpire’s call and would rely on the signals.

Attending a lot of matches and observing other umpires is a necessary part of training aimed at becoming a good umpire. You can begin your practical training by becoming a member of an umpires’ association in your local area and once you have gained more competence, you can aspire to join worldwide umpires’ associations. Being a member of an association can get you hired as an umpire though the process of getting noticed and hired could take years.

The skills needed to become an umpire can be summarized as follows: thorough knowledge of the 42 Laws of Cricket, in-depth understanding of the game, the ability to make decisions spontaneously and to manage people as well as to stay calm and unruffled under any circumstances.

We must also highlight the physical form aspects of umpiring. The ICC conducts umpiring courses in which they test the hearing ability, eyesight and fitness of prospective umpires.

An individual who wishes to become an umpire must do a lot of physical training as they must stand for six to eight hours continually on the field of play. There is much pressure on the neck and back, so building strength in the respective body areas is crucial.

Mental fitness is also a very important aspect of umpiring. An umpire must be mentally very strong and extremely patient. Above everything else, an umpire must be fair and impartial no matter the circumstances.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Cricket Umpire

Cricket umpires are responsible for making decisions and calls in a game of cricket.

They also ensure that players and matches follow the rules of the game, taking a similar role to referees in other sports.

Most umpires, at least at a professional level, are male, even in women’s cricket, and there was only one female umpire at the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2013. The number of umpires on the field varies according to the type of match played.

Pre-Match Duties

Before the cricket match starts, umpires inspect the pitch area, make sure that all equipment is set out, and check that the boundary is correctly marked before play begins.

They then meet with team captains to check team details and to discuss hours of play, the timing of food and drink breaks, and rules of play, before the coin toss to decide which team bats or bowls first.

Umpire Numbers

Most cricket matches have two umpires on the field. The first stands at the stumps behind the bowler, and the second at a position known as “square leg” to the left of the batsman.

There are three umpires in an international match. The third official gives a final decision from a TV monitor if the other umpires feel that a decision is unclear and they need to see a replay. At international “Test” level, players can also appeal against an on-field umpire decision and use the third umpire to challenge the call.

Position And Decisions

Umpires monitor fair play and make decisions on game play. They also monitor overs — sets of six balls bowled at one end of the pitch — and tell teams when to change ends.

It is the umpire’s job to rule on whether a batsman is out, whether a bowler has bowled illegally and to make a call on how many runs a batsman hits. The position on the pitch dictates the decisions each umpire makes.

For example, the bowler-end umpire looks for mistakes such as illegal bowls (no-balls), wide/high balls (wides) and balls that would have hit the wicket, but that were diverted by the batsman’s leg (LBW/leg before wicket). 

What qualifications do you need to be a cricket umpire?

To become a Cricket Umpire in India, first, you need to register with your respective State Cricket Associations by giving a written and a verbal examination. You then need to officiate in local cricket matches, and gradually pass the BCCI Level 1 & Level 2 examinations to get empanelled with BCCI as an Umpire.

Do cricket Umpires get paid?

An elite international cricket umpire receives a salary of around £72,000. They are paid somewhere in the region of £3,500 for a Test match, and around £2,200 for a One-Day International. Obviously, the pay for a T20 international is lower still.

How can I become a cricket commentator?

The specializations available for a sports commentator include a bachelor’s degree in journalism, mass media, broadcasting or English. However, one of the most useful courses for an aspiring cricket or a sports commentator is a course in television news and production.

How do I become a commentator?

Volunteering

volunteer to commentate on charity events like fun runs.

commentate for amateur matches at schools, college or for local teams.

record commentary for websites or internet radio stations.

volunteer for community, hospital or student radio, or TV.

What degree do you need to be a commentator?

Announcers should have educational training in communications, broadcasting, or journalism from a four-year university, two-year community college, or a private school. A majority of announcers have at least a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting or journalism.

How many years of college do you need to be a sports commentator?

It will take you 4 years to obtain a bachelor’s degree (preferably, in journalism or communications). Public speaking classes can last for a few weeks or a couple of months.

How hard is it to become a sports commentator?

Becoming a sports announcer can be challenging since the field is fairly competitive and difficult to break into. Only by gaining the right education and early work experience can you hope to find success, but with enough determination, you can eventually find a job that is both personally and financially rewarding.