Making the right decision

The following tips may help you in making the right decisions:

·         If in doubt, not out!

·         Always pause before giving a decision.

·         When appropriate, consult the square-leg umpire.

·         Thoroughly learn the lbw law.

·         Practise your umpiring during net practice sessions. Not only can you improve your feel for making the right call on lbw appeals, you can also work on adjudging front-foot no-balls and caught-behind nicks.

·         Quickly get a feel for the amount the ball is bouncing. You can work with your square-leg partner on a simple set of hand-signals. When an appeal is made you can glance at your partner who can quietly signal to you whether or not the ball would have bounced over the stumps.

·         Don’t be bullied by the fielding team into giving an out decision. The loudness of the appeal is irrelevant. Be confident in your ability to make an unhurried but correct decision.

·         At the bowler’s end you should stand in line with the stumps and at a distance where you can look down over the top of the bails and still just see the batting crease.