Umpire Signals Explained: Every Signal a Scorer Must Know
By the Cricket Score Counter Editorial Team · Updated · 5 min read
Umpires talk to scorers almost entirely through hand signals. This guide lists every signal in the Laws plus the common playing-condition signals, explains the order in which they arrive, and shows how a scorer should turn a sequence of signals into the correct entry.
Key takeaways
- Wide and no-ball are signalled while the ball is in play; most other signals come once the ball is dead.
- Scorers must acknowledge every signal, and the umpire should wait for that acknowledgement.
- Combined signals are common: a no-ball followed by a four means one no-ball plus four runs to the batter.
- If the umpire touches both shoulders with crossed arms, cancel the previous signal.
Why signals matter so much to the scorer
Law 2 makes the umpires responsible for the conduct of the game, and Law 3 makes the scorers responsible for recording it accurately. The link between the two is the signal. The scorer is not supposed to decide what happened; they record what the umpire signals, even if they saw something different from the boundary.
That makes signals the most practical part of the Laws for anyone with a scorebook or a phone. In club cricket you might be sitting forty metres away, behind a sightscreen, with players walking in front of you. Knowing exactly what each signal means, and what order they come in, lets you record a complicated ball in seconds.
Scorers must acknowledge each signal before play continues, traditionally by raising a hand. At grounds with no proper scorers' box, a wave from the boundary is enough. A good umpire will not let the bowler run in until he has seen it.
The full list of signals
The table covers the signals in the Laws, plus three that come from playing conditions you will often meet: free hit, TV replay and the third-umpire review. Practise the ones that look similar, especially bye versus out and the two penalty-run signals.
| Signal | How it looks | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Out | Index finger raised above the head | Wicket; ask for dismissal type if unclear |
| Boundary four | Arm waved side to side across the chest | Four runs, to bat or to extras |
| Boundary six | Both arms raised straight above the head | Six runs to the batter |
| Wide | Both arms stretched out horizontally | One wide plus any runs as wides |
| No-ball | One arm stretched out horizontally | One no-ball plus runs |
| Bye | Open hand raised above the head | Byes, not charged to bowler |
| Leg bye | Hand touches a raised knee | Leg byes, not charged to bowler |
| Dead ball | Wrists crossed and uncrossed below the waist | Usually nothing; ball may not count |
| Short run | Arm bent, fingertips touching the nearer shoulder | Deduct one run per signal |
| Five penalty runs to batting side | One shoulder tapped repeatedly with the other hand | Five penalty extras to batting side |
| Five penalty runs to fielding side | One hand placed on the opposite shoulder | Five penalty runs to fielding side |
| Revoke last signal | Both shoulders touched with arms crossed | Cancel the previous signal |
| New ball | Ball held above the head | Note the over the new ball was taken |
| Free hit | One finger raised and circled above the head | Next ball is a free hit |
| TV replay | A rectangle drawn in the air | Wait for third umpire's decision |
Signals during play and after the ball is dead
Two signals are given while the ball is still live: no-ball and wide. The umpire calls them aloud and signals at once so the batters know a free run or a free swing is on. Once the ball is dead, the umpire repeats them for the scorers.
Everything else, including boundaries, byes, leg byes and short runs, is signalled only after the ball is dead. The umpire usually turns to face the scorers and gives the signals one after the other, then waits.
Out is a little different. It is a response to an appeal rather than a message to the scorers, so it is given to the players. If you did not see how the batter was out, ask at the next break rather than guessing.
Reading combined signals
The trickiest moments come when two or three signals arrive together. The rule of thumb is that the first signal tells you what kind of ball it was, and the next ones tell you what happened to the runs.
Note that a four signal on its own always means four runs to the batter. It is only when it follows a bye, leg bye or wide that the four becomes extras.
- No-ball, then four: one no-ball extra plus four runs to the batter. That is five in total, and all five are charged to the bowler.
- Wide, then four: five wides in total, all charged to the bowler.
- Bye, then four: four byes, not charged to the bowler or credited to the batter.
- No-ball, then bye: the no-ball extra plus any byes run, none to the batter.
- Two runs completed, then short run: one run scored, and the batters stay at the ends they reached.
Signals in local, school and gully cricket
In many local games the umpire is a batter from the side waiting to bat, wearing pads and holding a phone. Signals still matter, arguably more, because both teams need to trust the scoring. Agree before the match that the umpire will signal every extra clearly and that the scorer will acknowledge it, even with just a nod.
Box and tape-ball formats often add house rules that have no official signal, such as a run for hitting the side net or an automatic wicket for hitting the roof. Agree a simple gesture for each one at the toss. Otherwise, use the standard signals and keep the meanings unchanged; inventing a new meaning for the bye signal will only confuse the next scorer.
School matches are a good place to teach signals properly. Ask young umpires to hold each signal for a full second and to face the scorers squarely. Those habits stay with them, and the scorebook ends up far tidier for it.
When the umpire changes his mind
Umpires do occasionally signal the wrong thing, such as a bye when the ball actually brushed the pad. The revoke signal, both shoulders touched with crossed arms, means "ignore what I just showed you". The correct signal should follow straight after.
If you are using Cricket Score Counter, this is exactly what the undo button is for: remove the last entry and record it again with the right extra type. In a paper book, cross out neatly and write the correction alongside so the other scorer can follow it at the break.
If you missed a signal altogether, do not guess. Call out to the umpire or agree the entry with the opposition scorer at the end of the over. Cross-checking the total, wickets and overs with the other scorer every few overs prevents most end-of-match disputes.
Put it into practice
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the bye and leg bye signals?
For a bye the umpire raises an open hand above the head. For a leg bye he lifts one knee and touches it with his hand. Both mean the runs go to extras, not to the batter or the bowler.
Is the free hit signal part of the Laws of Cricket?
No. Free hits come from playing conditions used in limited-overs cricket, and so does the circling-finger signal. Plenty of local leagues use them, but check your competition rules.
How does an umpire signal a short run?
He bends one arm upwards and touches the nearer shoulder with his fingertips. One signal means one run is deducted; if two runs were short, he signals twice.
Why does the umpire wait after signalling?
He is waiting for the scorers to acknowledge the signal. Law 2 requires him to make sure each signal has been seen before he lets play continue, which avoids disputes over the total later on.
This guide follows the MCC Laws of Cricket and common competition playing conditions. Local leagues and friendly matches often use their own rules, so always agree them before the toss. Spotted something we should correct? Contact us.