Conclusive Evidence

Conclusive Evidence:

This document should be read with the following resources on this website:

• DRS Snicko Briefing, England v Sri Lanka

• RTS Protocol

• BBG Sports DRS Guide for Hot Spot and Real Time Snicko

• UltraEdge Briefing File

• HawkEye Split Screen Match Preparation

• Cricket Umpires Communications, Crescent Communications

• ICC Hot Spot Training

• 3rd Umpire ANB Directives

These resources will be referenced during your simulation sessions with your ICC Umpire Coach. Recent examples of 3rd Umpire decision-making will be studied, and you will have the opportunity to simulate all of the areas covered in this document. ICC OneDrive resources will be utilised by your coach in order to give you a virtual, but realistic series of exercises in order to develop your skills and judgement. This website contains examples of simulations conducted with Development Panel, and International Panel Umpires. (See Module 7, 3rd Umpire, Coach/Umpire Simulations.

3rd Umpire simulations are an integral element of Elite Panel, International Panel, and Development Panel activities.All our Umpires are expected to take a full and active part in 3rd Umpire simulations on a regular basis. Conclusive Evidence is at the core of our sessions. You will practice the communication protocols needed to ensure that you arrive at the correct decision, using all the technology available to you. 3rd umpiring is factual, and evidence based. The evidence viewed will be conclusive, or inconclusive. When processing an Umpire referral, you will make a decision for the big screen. When processing a player review you will advise the on-field Umpire to stay with his original decision, or you will advise him to reverse his original decision, based on the evidence you have considered.

Instruction

The primary focus of the 3rd Umpire should be to find conclusive evidence that the original on-field decision was incorrect.

To be absolutely clear, the 3rd Umpire is not looking for evidence to support the original decision - the 3rd Umpire needs to use available technology on the day to conclusively prove the original decision was incorrect if he is to advise the on-field Umpire to reverse his decision. If the 3rd Umpire has doubt about the evidence, that is not conclusive evidence to overturn the original on field decision.

Caught Decisions - Conclusive Evidence Guidelines

Hotspot Guidance - if there is a heat spot on the bat as the ball goes past the bat, then that is enough evidence to have a high degree of confidence the striker has hit the ball. If there is no mark on the bat as the ball goes past, the absence of a heat mark should not be regarded as conclusive evidence to say he has not hit the ball - the Umpire needs to also check for other visual clues from slow and super slow-motion replays as well as using the audio tools to confirm contact or no contact.

UltraEdge Guidance - If there is a spike on UltraEdge as the ball passes the bat, then that is enough evidence to have a high degree of confidence that the ball has hit the bat. The Umpire needs to also check for other visual clues from slow and super-slow-motion replays as well as using the audio tools to confirm contact or no contact. A ‘rumbling’ wave is not a spike. See ‘UltraEdge Briefing File’ with its associated video examples.

Audio decision making tools for Caught Decisions.

When viewing slow motion replays, note that any sound may appear a little distorted and a fraction late after the ball passes the bat as sound does not travel as quickly as light (audio compared to vision). If there is a noise on these slow-motion replays, then it is suggested a full speed replay be requested which will enable you to more easily determine whether the sound heard is akin to the time that the ball passes the bat and accordingly whether the sound heard is infact the sound of the bat/glove making contact with the ball. In cases where the bat is away from the body and there is nothing else that could have caused the noise as the ball passes the bat, then audio can be sufficient evidence to form a high degree of confidence that the ball has hit the bat (even if hotspot shows nothing on a fine edge).

So, in summary, for caught decisions, we instruct the Umpires to review audio AND vision.

• The 3rd Umpire should have at least one element (vision or audio evidence) to have a high degree of confidence of the ball hitting the bat to overturn a not out decision. Another element is desirable but not essential.

• To overturn an on field ‘Out’ decision there should be no sound (bat on ball sound) and no visible clue (Hotspot, deviation, or picture of ball on bat) that the ball hit the bat, or a flat line on UltraEdge.

LBW Decisions- Conclusive evidence guidelines

Hawk Eye graphical evidence is to be taken as read (unless there is an obvious error in comparing animation to actual).

Bat involved Guidance

• If there is a heat spot on the bat as the ball goes past the bat, then that is enough evidence to have a high degree of confidence the striker has hit the ball. If there is no mark on the bat as the ball goes past, the absence of a heat mark should not be regarded as conclusive evidence to say he has not hit the ball - the Umpire needs to also check for other visual clues from slow and super slow-motion replays as well. In this case, using the audio tools to confirm contact or no contact is rarely helpful.

• If there is a spike on UltraEdge as the ball goes past the bat, then that is enough evidence to have a high degree of confidence the striker has hit the ball. The Umpire needs to also check for other visual clues from slow and super-slow-motion replays as well. Other angles may also assist e.g., off-side and leg-side angles with a split screen.

Remember: We are not looking for evidence to support the on-field decision, we are looking for conclusive evidence to say the original decision was incorrect. If the 3rd Umpire cannot conclusively say that the ball hit the bat before the ball hit the pad/person of the striker, then the 3rd Umpire should not advise to the on-field Umpire to overturn an OUT decision to not out.

• When using Hotspot, the absence of a hot spot mark or hot spot replay can make the conclusive evidence process more difficult. Deciding on bat first using vision replays alone means that you need to see daylight between bat and ball all the way to conclusively say that the ball did not hit the bat before pad.

• When using UltraEdge, the absence of a spike as the ball passes the bat is conclusive evidence that there is no bat involved

Fair Catch

This is a decision to be made by the bowler’s end on field Umpire. If he is uncertain about the fair catch, he can consult with square leg and if more information is needed, he can consult with the 3rd Umpire by making the TV sign followed by a soft signal of out or not out.

The 3rd Umpire will then review for a fair catch, beginning with a front foot check (If ANB is not being used).

In order to say that the ball went into the hands of the fielder without bouncing (hitting the ground), we need to see no evidence of the ball touching the ground at any time. For clarity, if the fielder’s fingers are under the ball and there is a possibility that the ball touched the ground between the fingers of one hand, it should be ruled as a clean catch. The fact that grass can be seen between the fingers is not evidence of the ball being grounded. The grass is above the ground.

If, however the ball has touched the ground between the hands as he catches it this will be ruled not out. To say that the ball clearly bounced, we need to see conclusive evidence that the ball was touching the ground before the fingers got under the ball.

You will simulate a number of such scenarios with your ICC coach before you are appointed as 3rd Umpire in a DRS game.

Replays are inconclusive:

Here, the 3rd Umpire does not have a clear replay showing what happened as the ball was taken by the fielder - he cannot confidently say whether the fielder got his fingers underneath the ball or if it bounced before going into the hands. When this happens and the 3rd Umpire rules that the “Replays are inconclusive”, he will stay with the original soft signal from the on-field Umpire. The soft signal is not a decision, it is an opinion that acts as a guide for the 3rd Umpire.

Foot Placement Fairness of Delivery - Conclusive Evidence

The ICC Playing Conditions relating to ‘Fair Delivery - the feet’ is different to the MCC Law.

The Playing Condition state ‘If the bowler’s end Umpire is satisfied that any of these conditions have not been met, he shall call and signal No ball.’

This means that if the bowler’s end Umpire or 3rd Umpire cannot be satisfied that the placement of feet has breached the Law, then the Umpire gives the benefit of doubt to the bowler. There must be clear and conclusive evidence that:

• No part of the front foot is grounded or raised behind the popping crease on landing (first contact)

• The back foot did not land within and not touching the return crease

• The front foot did not land with some part on the same side as the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps

… in order to rule and signal a No ball.

Waist Height Fairness of Delivery - Conclusive Evidence

On field Umpires are the call the marginal ones live.

Conclusive evidence is required to reverse the original decision made by the on-field Umpire

Should the video replay evidence be inconclusive (that is, you cannot definitely tell if the ball was above or below the waist height of the striker standing up at the crease), then the original on field decision should stand. If a potential catch is involved the on-field Umpire is advised to wait until the catch is taken, or not, before referring the no ball.

Shoulder Height Fairness of Delivery - Conclusive Evidence

On field Umpires are the call the marginal ones live.

Conclusive evidence is required to reverse the original decision made by the on-field Umpire.

This delivery was not called on field. The picture following shows the ball clearly above shoulder height of the batsman with him also standing upright off the ground - there is conclusive evidence to call this a No ball for being the 3rd bouncer in the over.

Should the video replay evidence be inconclusive (that is, you cannot definitely tell if the ball was above or below the shoulder height of the striker standing up at the crease), then the original on-field decision should stand.

Boundaries and Boundary Catches - Conclusive Evidence

The on-field Umpire is able to consult with the 3rd Umpire to check to see if a boundary is scored. The 3rd Umpire is to view available replays to decide this. 3rd Umpires are encouraged to be proactive and to inform the on-field Umpires, when the ball is dead, that they will check for the boundary.

Should the 3rd Umpire be unable to see if a boundary was actually scored, then the status quo remains as

• Runs as scored

• Fair catch (dismissal of striker)

The 3rd Umpire requires conclusive evidence from the replays in order to say that a boundary was scored and rule the ball as dead from that boundary.

You will simulate a number of such scenarios with your ICC coach before you are appointed as 3rd Umpire in a DRS game.

Obstructing the Field - Conclusive Evidence

The on-field Umpire is able to consult with the 3rd Umpire on appeal. The 3rd Umpire is to review available replays and provide the bowler’s end Umpire with his opinion of ‘willful attempted obstruction’. The 3rd Umpire has to have conclusive evidence of a willful attempt to obstruct the fielding side.

The following elements contribute towards conclusive evidence of willfully attempting to obstruct the field…

• The batsman changing direction

• The batsman turning and watching the throw

• Attempting to block the ball / throw with his bat or person

• Running down the protected area of the pitch (middle)

Please note:

This document should be read with the following resources on this website:

• DRS Snicko Briefing, England v Sri Lanka

• RTS Protocol

• BBG Sports DRS Guide for Hot Spot and Real Time Snicko

• UltraEdge Briefing File

• HawkEye Split Screen Match Preparation

• Cricket Umpires Communications, Crescent Communications

• ICC Hot Spot Training

• 3rd Umpire ANB Directives

All the screen grabs in this document are taken from videos used for simulation activities with Emirates Elite Panel Umpires, International Panel Umpires, and Development Panel Umpires, working with ICC Umpire Coaches.