What do the umpires' signals to the scorers mean?

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Accepted Answer

Under Law 2.13 of the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026), the bowler's end umpire repeats these signals to the scorers when the ball is dead:

Dead ball: crossing and re-crossing the wrists below the waist.
No ball: one arm extended horizontally.
Wide: both arms extended horizontally.

These signals are made to the scorers only when the ball is dead:

Boundary 4: waving an arm from side to side, finishing with the arm across the chest.
Boundary 6: raising both arms above the head.
Bye: raising an open hand above the head.
Leg bye: touching a raised knee with the hand.
Short run: bending one arm upwards and touching the nearer shoulder with the fingertips.
New ball: holding the ball above the head.
Revoke last signal: touching both shoulders, each with the opposite hand.
5 Penalty runs to the batting side: repeatedly tapping one shoulder with the opposite hand.
5 Penalty runs to the fielding side: placing one hand on the opposite shoulder.
Commencement of Last hour: pointing to a raised wrist with the other hand.
Level 3 and Level 4 conduct offences (Law 42): each has two parts, and you acknowledge both parts separately. Both start with one arm out to the side, repeatedly raised and lowered. Part 2 for Level 3 is both hands raised to shoulder height with fingers spread and palms towards the scorers. Part 2 for Level 4 is an index finger raised at shoulder height to the side of the body.

Acknowledging: the scorers must immediately acknowledge each separate signal (Law 3.3). The umpire waits for each to be separately acknowledged before play proceeds, and gives several signals in the order the events occurred (2.13.2).