What are the steps for starting play and giving guard?
Guideline- Australia
- Cricket Australia
- Community cricket
- Laws of Cricket
- All ages
- 2026/27
- Umpires
Cricket Australia's Community Umpiring Technique Guidelines set out the "Starting Play" sequence for the bowler's end umpire:
- Count the fielders.
- Provide the bowling action (right or left arm, over or around the wicket).
- Give guard.
- Check the striker's end umpire is ready.
- Check the fielding captain is ready.
- Check the batters are ready.
- Check the scorers are ready.
- Call "Play".
Giving guard: always give guard from up at the stumps, use the same terminology the player uses, and point to the stump requested. The guidelines show "two offs" for off stump, "two centres" for middle stump and "one leg" for leg stump for a right-handed batter, with the matching calls shown for a left-handed batter.
Stance: a relaxed stance with hands by your side or clasped in front, head still, in line with the stumps. For a turf pitch the guidelines place the bails in line with the protected area markings; for an artificial pitch, mark 1.5 m from the return crease.
The bowler's end umpire calls Play before the first ball of the match and on resumption after any interval or interruption (Law 12.1 of the Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026).
Updated 24 Oct 2026