Counting at Striker's End

[nompere]

Hopefully you all count the balls when standing at Striker's End to assist your colleague. Remember of course that it is the ultimate responsibility of Bowler's End umpire but this is best served by a discrete signal after the fifth ball has become dead.

I found one colleague who insisted in sticking one finger up eg www.acumenbooks.co.uk/signals/ambiguous.jpg but this can occasionally be open to misinterpretation.

I strongly recommend the Bowler's End initiating the signal by spreading five fingers near his/her trouser pocket www.acumenbooks.co.uk/signals/fivegone.jpg Your colleague should respond with the same signal if he agrees.

If he disagrees he should respond with something completely different such as www.acumenbooks.co.uk/signals/twotocome.jpg OR www.acumenbooks.co.uk/signals/threetocome.jpg - I certainally cannot see the difference if he places four fingers on his trouser pocket!

Obviously if he thinks six have gone, then a step or wave towards the stumps would probably be the best response.

Has anyone got any better suggestions?

[swerveman]

The "ambiguous" signal seems to be universally accepted in our league, with the direction of the finger, and the hand used, being variable, depending mainly on the best available line of sight!

[nompere]

Whilst I am pleased to hear that everyone is exchanging signals, it would be sensible to make them completely unambiguous and distinct. How does Striker's End signal "two left" when he disagrees?

[swerveman]

Then it would be like your "twotocome" above. Bowler's end umpire has the last word, of course, by calling "Over" when he thinks he should.

[wisden17]

When I umpire I have a set of walkie-talkies, and leave one with the scorers. If there is any disagrement, a quick, discrete check with the scorers can resolve any problem (and doesn't require the umpires shouting to the scorers, making themselves look like idiots, to be honest!)

[johnump]

Its best to agree to signal when you think that there are 2 balls left in the over. The reasons are :

If you chose the 1 ball left method then if one of you is ahead by a ball then they will call over without you being able to rectify the error. But if you'd agreed to the"2" signal then they will signal "2" to you and you merely show 3 to them and no fuss is made.

Thats why the Elite Panel use that method.

[wisden17]

It is indeed best to signal with two left (and I have been steadly persuading my colleagues of that this year).

Let me quote a certain Mr. Taufel on this topic:

"Signalling after 4 deliveries is much better than after 5 - as what happens if you and you partner disagree after 5? Call over? Bowl another? As we say in NSW, it is better to bowl 5 than 7 in an over!"

[johnump]

I think Simon Taufel has done the most for cricket Umpiring in the past few years than anyone. He has increased the awareness for training and has put a lot of training in place. Well done Simon!!

[nompere]

I feel we are over complicating this by exchanging signals after four balls as something may happen on number five which distracts you and forget that there is still one to come.

We must remember that the prime responsibility is with Bowlers End umpire. If he is using any collaboration, he would not call "over" without having had some signal returned a ball earlier.

If he had, at that time, thought five had gone and his colleague thought four he would have done something - usually a mental check for Wides or No Balls - or at worst checked with scorers.

Similarly if he thought five had gone and Strikers End said six, then again some further check would be necessary.

This is no different from what would happen after four except that if the colleague says three then there is longer to make a further mistake!

[fatpunter]

Walkie Talkies to check with the scorers? Why not go the whole hog and take along a third umpire with video playback facilities.

You can overkill you know chaps. Nothing wrong with a pocketful of counters and a glance over after 5 balls to see your colleague spin one in the air.

[johnfgolding]

fatpunter said:

Walkie Talkies to check with the scorers? Why not go the whole hog and take along a third umpire with video playback facilities.

You can overkill you know chaps. Nothing wrong with a pocketful of counters and a glance over after 5 balls to see your colleague spin one in the air.

ABSOLUTELY, whether at 4 (typical in Australia, so I believe) or 5 balls is up to the individual.

[exexile]

Somebody has lost the point here. As long as you both agree when and how to signal to each other it matters not whether it is fourth or fifth ball. The signal is 'exchanged' not given and received. If bowler's end hasn't received it he needs to clarify the situation. That can be done while the ball is still dead. Frankly, if you only look at your colleague once an over you are not acting as a team. I hope I look at my colleague every ball, and if he is signally unexpectedly I should pick it up immediately. Personally I favour a permanant signal by striker's end. In my case, I fold my arms when the fifth ball goes dead; a colleague puts his right foot forward at that time. Having said that, we really ought to standardise at one or the other. I tried 'fourth balling' with a colleague who had visited Australia. I found it very difficult to switch from one methos to the other.

[nompere]

I tried the "fourth ball" method and then got a "No Ball" on fifth or sixth ball and lost track of where we were.

I strongly recommend the "fifth ball" method.

I also recommend placing five fingers on the trouser pocket because one finger can be confused for "out" - very occasionally the fifth ball will result in a shout that you might need assistance.

If the bowler's end signals five and his colleague disagrees, then I recommend using a completely different signal such as two splayed fingers on the upper arm.

[umpire50]

Looks like I am going to have to adopt the Australian system as, unlike Nompere, I only have four fingers on each hand!!

Seriously though, I personally prefer to signal after five deliveries. I also use the two splayed fingers on the upper arm.

[Number 6]

Signal after five and use the two splayed fingers if you disagree, that's my recommendation.

My main problem is exactly how to signal; I prefer the outstretched hand on the pocket but sometimes my colleague is not in direct line of sight and it's necessary to stick a finger out on an outstretched arm so that he can see clearly. Not ideal but there we are.

Pete