The Role of the Third Umpire in Cricket
What the third umpire does in international cricket: run-outs, stumpings, catches, no-balls and the Decision Review System, plus how referrals work.
The third umpire is an official who sits off the field of play and uses television replays to help decide close calls. Their job is to support the two on-field umpires, who remain the officials in charge of the game. Over time, the role has grown from checking simple run-outs to being an essential part of the modern Decision Review System.
How the role began
Television replays were first used to help with run-out decisions in international cricket in the early 1990s. A well-known early example came during a Test between South Africa and India at Durban in 1992, when Sachin Tendulkar was given out after a replay was consulted. The experiment showed that video evidence could settle questions that the naked eye could not, and it was gradually extended to other decisions.
What the third umpire decides
On-field umpires can refer certain decisions to the third umpire when they are unsure. The most common ones are:
- Run-outs, where the question is whether the batter or bat had reached the crease
- Stumpings, where the batter’s foot or bat may or may not have been grounded
- Whether a catch was taken cleanly, or the ball touched the ground
- Whether a ball has crossed the boundary rope for four or six
- Fielders touching the boundary while taking a catch
- No-balls in certain circumstances, such as the bowler overstepping
The third umpire has access to multiple camera angles and slow-motion replays. They communicate with the on-field umpires through a headset and give a verdict that is displayed on the ground’s big screen, usually with a green light for not out and a red light for out.
The Decision Review System
The Decision Review System, known as DRS, extends the third umpire’s role. Under DRS, players can ask for a review of an on-field decision, most commonly lbw or caught-behind calls. Technology such as ball-tracking and edge-detection tools helps the third umpire assess whether the ball would have hit the stumps or touched the bat. Each team has a limited number of unsuccessful reviews, and the number depends on the format and playing conditions of the series.
In an lbw review, the third umpire looks at where the ball pitched, where it hit the batter and whether it would have gone on to hit the stumps. If the ball-tracking shows it only clipping the stumps, the on-field decision stands. This is known as umpire’s call, and it exists to respect the original judgement when the margin is very small.
Responsibilities in the control room
The third umpire works with a television director and a technical operator who supplies the replays. They are expected to be calm, systematic and to avoid hurrying. The procedure normally involves looking at the key frame, checking that the evidence is conclusive and then communicating the verdict. If the footage is inconclusive, the on-field decision is usually left in place.
In many matches there is also a fourth umpire who looks after match balls and other administrative tasks and may replace an on-field umpire if required. This is separate from the third umpire role, which focuses on the technology.
Limits and controversies
The third umpire is not perfect. Camera angles can be limited, and some calls remain subjective, such as whether a catch was fully under control. Players and fans sometimes disagree with the decisions or the length of time taken, and the playing conditions have been revised more than once to refine the rules around reviews. Even so, most people agree that video replay has reduced obvious errors and made decisions more transparent.
Why it matters
Cricket is a sport of fine margins, where a dismissal can change a match. The third umpire gives the game a way to settle close calls with evidence rather than guesswork, and the on-field umpires still keep control of the match. As technology continues to develop, the role is likely to keep evolving, but its main purpose remains the same: to help get the decision right.
Frequently asked questions
What does the third umpire do?
They use video replays to help decide close calls such as run-outs, stumpings, boundaries and catches, and assist with reviews under the Decision Review System.
Is the third umpire on the field?
No. The third umpire sits off the field in a control room with access to replay footage and communicates with the on-field umpires by radio.
What is umpire’s call?
It is the outcome of an lbw review where ball-tracking shows the ball only marginally hitting the stumps, in which case the original on-field decision stays.