In advance of the upcoming NIACUS Level 1 umpiring course in March, Alan Neil has prepared some umpiring teasers to test your knowledge of cricket:

Simple Scenarios that you may encounter throughout the season either on a Friday night during a boys match or as a stand in umpire on a Saturday/Sunday.

I hope you tested yourself honestly and recorded your answers, so you can compare them with the answers below.

(1) The striker plays no shot to a fair delivery, which brushes off his pads. Both batsmen run and complete one run comfortably and turn and set off for a second which they also complete.

• What should have been done in this situation?
  (A) Allowing the batsmen to attempt the first run is correct as this allows the fielding team to run-out either batsman, but if this is unsuccessful then the umpire must call and signal Dead Ball on completion of this first run. Batsmen will be returned to their original ends and no runs scored.
  

(2) The batsmen complete one run and almost cross on the second as a throw comes in and goes to the boundary for four. The batsmen complete three runs before the ball crosses the boundary.

• How many runs are scored?
  (A) The important point is when the throw occurs. As this happens after the batsmen have completed one run then only that run plus the four from the overthrows will count. The fact that the batsmen complete three runs before the ball crosses the boundary is of no significance. Five runs are recorded NB. As five runs are added to the total the batsmen will return to the correct ends i.e. striker becomes non-striker.
  

(3) A young fast bowler delivers a full slow delivery (beamer) to a batsman at the crease who intercepts the ball just above the waist and hits it into the outfield where he is caught.

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) Although it was a "fast bowler" the important point is the type of delivery ie. Slow, therefore the height of delivery was not an issue and the delivery was fair.  The batsman will be given out and no runs scored.
  

(4) The same bowler delivers a fast full delivery (beamer) and the batsman charges him. He intercepts it just above waist height and again is caught.

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) With the batsman changing his batting position he then changes the conditions of the delivery. Although he intercepts it above waist height the bowlers end umpire must make the judgement as to whether or not it would still be above waist height if the batsman had been in his normal batting position (at the popping crease)( Your colleague can be of assistance with this) If called a No ball, then he is not out, and a caution given to the bowler (as described in Q5).
  

(5) A fast bowler delivers a beamer (accidentally with a wet ball) which arrives just above waist height of the batsman standing at the crease.

• What action if any would you take?
  (A) Call and signal No ball, allow the game to continue and when the ball becomes dead re-signal to scorers. Then inform the fielding captain, bowler and your colleague that this is an official caution. The fact it was accidental has no bearing on the incident. (This is the first of two cautions that can be given before another would end the bowler`s day).
  

(6) The striker hits the ball in the air and just before being caught the non-striker shouts loudly and distracts the fielder who drops the chance.

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) If the umpires are sure that the act was deliberate then the striker will be given out, on appeal, even though the non-striker was the culprit. If a run had been completed prior to the incident then it would not count.
  

(7) A fair delivery hits the striker (without touching bat or gloves) on the pads directly in front of the stumps. The delivery then deflects onto the gloves and is caught by the keeper. An appeal comes from the bowler.

• How do you answer the appeal, and how is it recorded?
  (A) Even though the batsman might have been L.B.W. the fact that the ball glanced off the gloves and was caught means the appeal will be answered OUT and will be recorded caught, as this form of dismissal takes precedence over L.B.W.
  

(8) A bowler delivers the ball from well behind you (ie. 25yds). 

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) If the bowler`s end umpire is not satisfied that the bowler`s back foot landed within and not touching the return crease (side line) he will call and signal No ball. A harsh call, which could be assisted by the flight and angle of the ball down the pitch.
  

(9) The first team is 129 all out. The second team is 129 for 9 when the last delivery is bowled which is called a wide and the batsman is stumped.

• How does the match finish?
  (A) The game concludes when the wide is bowled, therefore the dismissal does not count and the game finishes 130 for 9. A one wicket win.
  

(10) A  bowlers front foot lands half and half on the front line but it slides past the line before he releases the ball.

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) None! As the front foot was correctly grounded in the delivery stride the fact it slips beyond the line has no effect on the fairness of the delivery (where the foot lands, not where it finishes up) A good umpire would give advice to the bowler to prevent a No ball occurring.
  

(11) You miscount the number of balls in the over and allow seven to be bowled. The first six are valid but the seventh is a No ball. You realise your mistake.

• What action if any do you take?
  (A) Even though the seventh was a No ball, "Over" must be called when the ball becomes dead.
  (A careful and tactful discussion would probably ensue with both batsmen and fielding captain)
  

(12) Which of the following dismissals "CANNOT "occur of a wide?

• Run out.
• Stumped.
• Obstructing the field.
• Handled the ball.
  (A) (d) Handled the ball.
  

I hope you have enjoyed the little exercise and your answers match those given above.

Why not use this exercise as a stepping stone to develop your knowledge of our game, and grasp the opportunity which is available on the 18th-20th March (NIACUS Level 1 umpiring course). It will assist parents, teachers, coaches and prospective umpires to develop their knowledge of the game and become better equipped to educate those we come in contact with.