A cricket appeal is a formal request made by one or more fielding players to the umpire to give a batter out. The appeal is an important part of cricket because an umpire generally does not give certain dismissals simply because the fielding side believes that the conditions have been satisfied; the fielding side must make an appeal where the laws require one.
The traditional appeal is often expressed through a loud collective call such as how is that, although players can also use other verbal or physical signals. An appeal may follow a suspected catch, leg before wicket decision, stumping, run out or another dismissal circumstance. The appeal tells the umpire that the fielding side is formally asking for a decision. It is therefore a procedural part of cricket rather than merely an emotional reaction to a close event.
Appeals can be made immediately after the relevant incident and are normally directed towards the appropriate umpire. The fielding team may appeal collectively, with the bowler, wicketkeeper and nearby fielders all participating, although a single player can make an appeal. The appeal must be made before the relevant ball becomes dead and within the requirements of the laws. Umpires then assess the circumstances and make the appropriate decision. The appeal does not itself establish that the batter is out.
It initiates the decision making process. This distinction is important because fielders can appeal when they genuinely believe a dismissal has occurred, but the umpire may decide not out after considering the evidence and relevant law. The appeal is therefore a request for adjudication rather than proof of a dismissal.
Different types of dismissal commonly produce different appeal situations. A catch can prompt an appeal when fielders believe the ball was caught cleanly before touching the ground. A leg before wicket appeal occurs when the fielding side believes the ball struck the batter's person under the conditions required for an lbw dismissal.
A stumping appeal can arise when the wicketkeeper breaks the wicket after the batter has left the crease without attempting a run, while a run out appeal can occur when a fielder breaks the wicket while a batter has not made good the required ground. The factual questions and laws differ for each dismissal. An umpire therefore cannot simply decide based on the loudness or confidence of the appeal. The relevant technical conditions must be satisfied for the dismissal to be given.
Appeals have a strong relationship with umpire decision making. The umpire observes the incident, considers the applicable law and communicates the decision, commonly by raising an index finger for out or signalling not out verbally or through established gestures where appropriate. At professional level, some decisions can be reviewed through the Decision Review System when the competition permits and the relevant conditions are met. Technology may include ball tracking, video replay, audio analysis and other tools depending on the incident. A review does not eliminate the importance of the original appeal because the review process is normally initiated through the procedures established after an on field decision. The appeal, umpire decision and review system therefore form connected parts of modern cricket adjudication.
A fielding team may appeal for legitimate reasons, but an appeal is not itself a licence to ignore the laws or behave improperly. Cricket's traditions place importance on sportsmanship and respect for officials, and competition regulations can address excessive or inappropriate appealing. Repeated appeals intended primarily to pressure an umpire can affect the atmosphere of a match even when no dismissal has occurred.
At the same time, vigorous appealing is a normal feature of competitive cricket and can communicate the fielding team's confidence that an event satisfies the laws. The distinction between normal competitive appeal and unacceptable conduct depends on the circumstances and applicable playing conditions. The essential legal point remains that the umpire is responsible for deciding whether the dismissal requirements have been met.
An appeal can involve uncertainty because many cricket dismissals depend on details that are difficult to observe in real time. In a catch, the umpire may need to determine whether the ball touched the ground before being controlled. In an lbw decision, factors include where the ball pitched, whether it struck the batter in the relevant circumstances, the location of impact and whether the ball would have hit the wicket, subject to the laws.
In a run out, the umpire must determine whether the batter made good the required ground before the wicket was fairly broken. These examples show why an appeal can be followed by careful examination rather than an immediate assumption that the fielding side is correct. Modern technology can provide additional evidence in some professional competitions, but not every level of cricket has access to it.
The appeal has historical and procedural importance because cricket traditionally relies heavily on the players and umpires to identify events that may be difficult to judge from a distance. Before widespread video technology, on field decisions were based primarily on umpire observation, positioning and consultation with other officials where appropriate. Modern professional cricket has added technological review systems, but the basic appeal remains recognisable and central to the game's structure.
The fielding side must communicate that it seeks a dismissal, and the umpire provides the authoritative on field decision. This procedure helps distinguish an ordinary fielding event from a formal claim that a batter should be dismissed. It also creates a clear moment at which the officials become responsible for adjudicating the disputed event.
A common misconception is that a batter is automatically out whenever the fielding team appeals loudly. In reality, the umpire must determine whether the relevant dismissal law has been satisfied. Another misconception is that every cricket event requires an appeal, because some dismissals and procedural circumstances have specific rules about when an umpire may act without an appeal. The details can vary according to the dismissal and the Laws of Cricket. Appeals are therefore best understood as a formal mechanism through which the fielding side asks an umpire to make a dismissal decision. They combine tradition, communication, law and officiating, and they remain an essential part of cricket from informal matches through to international competition.
