Editing Third umpire

{{Short description|Role in some cricket matches}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2024}}
<!--  Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:3rdumpire.jpg|thumb|right|[[Brett Lee]] looks on as the [[third umpire]] ponders his decision. [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Australia Day]], [[2006]]]] -->
[[File:Third umpire lights at Melbourne Cricket Ground.JPG|thumb|right|The third umpire lights at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]]]
The '''third umpire''' (or '''TV Umpire'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/19430/scorecard/1183532/australia-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-icc-world-test-championship-2019-2021 |title=Australia vs New Zealand scorecard |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 December 2019|quote=TV Umpires Marais Erasmus}}</ref>) is an off-[[Cricket field|field]] [[umpire (cricket)|umpire]] used in some [[cricket]] matches, particularly [[international cricket|international]] matches. Their role is to make the final decision in questions referred to them by the two on-field umpires or the players.

The third umpire is also there to act as an emergency on-field umpire if required.<ref name="ICC1"/>

==History==
The third umpire was the brainchild of Dr Ali Bacher, the former Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa and Mike Demaine, the senior cricket producer at the South African Broadcasting Television sports department. The idea was conceived in a meeting between Ali Bacher & Mike Demaine at the UCBSA offices in Johannesburg in 1991 & used for the first time in South African domestic cricket competitions that season (with the approval of the ICC). After the successful use of the technology in 1991 the ICC then agreed for the UCBSA and the SABC to use the technology in the television coverage of international matches in South Africa in 1992.

It debuted in Test cricket in November 1992 at [[Kingsmead cricket ground, Durban|Kingsmead]], [[Durban]] for the [[Indian cricket team in South Africa in 1992–93|South Africa vs. India series]]. [[Karl Liebenberg]] was the third umpire, with [[Cyril Mitchley]] the on-field umpire, who referred the run out decision in this match. [[Sachin Tendulkar]] became the first batsman to be dismissed ([[run out]]) by using television replays in the second day of the Test scoring 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153619.html|title=Wisden: 1st Test South Africa v India 1992–93|publisher=cricinfo.com}}</ref>

==Appointment==

The third umpire is appointed from the [[Elite Panel of ICC Umpires]] or the [[International Panel of ICC Umpires]] for [[Test cricket|Test matches]],<ref name="ICC1">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/playing-conditions |title=ICC Men's Test Match Playing Conditions Effective 1 September 2019 |work=ICC |date=1 September 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019|quote=2.1.1.3 One (1) third umpire, who shall act as the emergency on-field umpire and officiate in regard to the DRS, appointed by the ICC from the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires or the ICC International Panel of Umpires, who shall not be from the same country as the participating teams.}}</ref> [[One Day International|ODIs]],<ref name="ICC2">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/playing-conditions |title=ICC Men's One Day International Playing Conditions Effective 30 September 2018 |work=ICC |date=30 September 2018 |access-date=23 December 2019|quote=2.1.7 In ODI matches where the DRS is used, the ICC will appoint a third umpire who shall act as the emergency on-field umpire and officiate in regard to the DRS. Such third umpire shall not be from the same country as the participating teams and shall be appointed from the ‘Elite Panel’ or the ‘International Panel’. 2.1.8 In all other ODI matches, the third umpire will be appointed by the Home Board and shall act as the emergency on-field umpire and officiate in regard to TV replays. Such appointment shall be made from the ‘Elite Panel’ or the ‘International Panel’.}}</ref> and [[Twenty20 International|T20Is]].<ref name="ICC4">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/playing-conditions |title=ICC Men's Twenty20 International Playing Conditions Effective 28 October 2019 |work=ICC |date=28 October 2019 |access-date=15 January 2020 |quote=2.1.5 In all T20I matches, the third umpire will be appointed by the Home Board and shall act as the emergency on-field umpire and officiate in regard to TV replays. Such appointment shall be made from the ‘Elite Panel’ or the ‘International Panel’.}}</ref>

For all Test matches, and for ODIs where [[Umpire Decision Review System|DRS]] is used, the third umpire is appointed by the [[International Cricket Council|ICC]], and is a different nationality to the two sides. For [[One Day International|ODIs]] where DRS is ''not'' used, and for all T20Is, the third umpire is appointed by the home side's [[Cricket#Governance|Governing body]].

==Functions==

===Decision requests===

An on-field umpire can, at his own discretion, use a radio link to refer particular types of close decision to the third umpire, this is called an [[Umpire Decision Review System#Umpire reviews|Umpire Review]]. When the full [[Umpire Decision Review System]] is ''not'' in use, the third umpire uses television [[Instant replay|replays]] (only) to assist him in coming to a decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/playing-conditions |title=ICC Men's One Day International Playing Conditions Effective 30 September 2018 |work=ICC |date=30 September 2018 |access-date=14 January 2020 |quote=Appendix D, paragraph 1.1.6, THIRD UMPIRE (NON-DRS), Replays that can be used: The third umpire shall only have access to replays of any camera images. Other technology which may be in use by the broadcaster for broadcast purposes (for example, ball-tracking technology, sound-based edge detection technology, and heat-based edge detection technology) shall not be used during Umpire Reviews.}}</ref>

When the full DRS is in use, players can also initiate reviews of particular decisions by the on-field umpires, this is called a [[Umpire Decision Review System#Player reviews|Player Review]]. These are judged by the third umpire, and the third umpire has the full range of technology available beyond simple replays, for both Umpire Reviews and Player Reviews.

===Emergency on-field umpire===
{{Main|List_of_Test_cricket_umpires#In-game changes|List_of_One_Day_International_cricket_umpires#In-game changes|l1=List of emergency uses of third umpire in Test matches|l2=List of emergency uses of third umpire in ODIs|}}

In the case of injury or illness to one of the on-field umpires, the third umpire will take his place. The third umpire duties will then be taken on by the [[fourth umpire]].<ref name="ICC3">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/playing-conditions |title=ICC Men's Test Match Playing Conditions Effective 1 September 2019 |work=ICC |date=1 September 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019|quote=2.1.1.3 One (1) third umpire, who shall act as the emergency on-field umpire... 2.1.1.4 One (1) fourth umpire, who shall act as the emergency third umpire, appointed by the Home Board, from its nominees to the ICC International Panel of Umpires.}}</ref>

For example, during the 4th ODI between [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2015–16#4th ODI|Australia and India at Canberra in 2015–16]], umpire [[Richard Kettleborough]] was injured during Australia's innings and was replaced by third umpire [[Paul Wilson (cricketer)|Paul Wilson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/richard-kettleborough-hit-by-aaron-finch-injury-replaced-by-paul-wilson-australia-india-odi-canberra/2016-01-20 |title=Finch takes out an umpire with drive |work=cricket.com.au |date=20 January 2016 |access-date=24 December 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Fourth umpire]]
*[[Instant replay in Major League Baseball]]

{{Cricket positions}}

[[Category:Cricket terminology]]
[[Category:Cricket umpiring]]
[[Category:Cricket laws and regulations]]