Umpires at Square leg?

[daley111]

can anyone tell me whethjer they feel a distinct advanatge in standing at square leg and the reason for it- although I cross over when left/right handers bat I do see little if any advantage- why do we do it?

[missingleg]

It's often thought that you're less likely to be in the way on the leg side. Other than that, it would be logical to go on the off-side so that you can see the leg side field and help your partner with catches carrying to slip/gully.

It's called 'striker's end umpire' so I infer that it really doesn't matter. I don't bother switching sides for RH LH ever because it wastes time in the match, wastes your own time when you have mark your card, score, look around etc. I sometimes ask the point fielder if I'm in his way on the off-side but he never says no.

Also, you'll find the faster the game (from multi-day to T20) the less likely a pro umpire is to cross. There are more important things to worry about. There's no right or wrong though, just what you're comfortable with.

[Acumen]

There are several reasons which give small advantages.

1 less interference with fielders
2 more time to evade the ball
3 less likely to be distracted by movement of bat when should be looking at feet for stumping
BUT POSSIBLY MOST IMPORTANT
4 see whether there is contact with ball on a sweep stroke.

I once stood at Square Leg when the striker swung round and did an overhead tennis stroke straight into keeper's gloves. My colleague could not see the contact and gave Not Out without consulting me.

There may be other reasons but obviously none of them override the need to avoid specific fielders or the sunshine in your eyes.

Personally I generally move to square leg for the first ball of an over but do not change sides if there is one right and one left handed batsman as this often wastes time.

[ankush94]

There is definitely one situation in which a proper view can be had only from square leg.

When a low catch is taken in the slips area off a fast bowler, you have a clear view of the ball going all the way into the catcher's hands only from square leg.

From the off-side, the ball disappears into the slip/gully cordon due to the placement of the wicketkeeper to gully fielders.

Just draw simple diagram and you'll know what I mean.

And with the number of batsmen who simply refuse to budge when a low catch is taken in the wicketkeeper-gully area, it's imperative that the striker end umpire gets a clear view of the "catch."

Hence for a fast bowler with a slip cordon, it's practically mandatory to stand on the on side.

[missingleg]

There's a good case for either side and both sides can leave you with problems. Just stand where, in your opinion, you are best placed to make decisions. I have found that I am better placed to see low catches on the off side as I'm nearer the action and less likely to guess but I fully accept the point above that your view can be blocked if there's a situation with a 3rd slip or gully getting in your way.

That said, I'll usually go the square leg for the right hander and stay there all match unless 1) there are two left handers or 2) the sun takes away the crease marking/the crease marking becomes less clear.