What signals do I give, and what must the scorers acknowledge?

Question

Accepted Answer

Under Law 2.13 of the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

Signals made while the ball is in play

Dead ball: cross and re-cross the wrists below the waist.
No ball: extend one arm horizontally.
Out: raise an index finger above the head. If it is not out, call "Not out".
Wide: extend both arms horizontally.

When the ball is dead, the bowler's end umpire repeats these signals (except Out) to the scorers.

Signals made to the scorers only when the ball is dead

Boundary 4: wave an arm from side to side, finishing with the arm across the chest.
Boundary 6: raise both arms above the head.
Bye: raise an open hand above the head.
Leg bye: touch a raised knee with the hand.
Short run: bend one arm upwards and touch the nearer shoulder with the fingertips.
New ball: hold the ball above the head.
Revoke last signal: touch both shoulders, each with the opposite hand.
Five Penalty runs to the batting side: repeatedly tap one shoulder with the opposite hand.
Five Penalty runs to the fielding side: place one hand on the opposite shoulder.
Commencement of Last hour: point to a raised wrist with the other hand.

The bowler's end umpire gives these, except Short run, which the umpire at the end where the short running occurred signals. The bowler's end umpire is responsible for the final Short run signal and for telling the scorers how many runs to record if more than one run is short.

Acknowledgement: the umpire must wait until each signal to the scorers has been separately acknowledged by a scorer before allowing play to proceed (Law 2.13.2). If several signals are used, they are given in the order the events occurred.