The Cricket Appeal: What Howzat Means and How Dismissals Work

Few sounds in sport are as distinctive as a cricket team roaring “Howzat?” in unison. The appeal is one of cricket’s oldest rituals: fielders do not simply celebrate a wicket, they must formally ask the umpire for it. Without an appeal, even the most obvious dismissal does not count.

The word “Howzat” is a shortened form of “How is that?”, the traditional way of asking the umpire whether the batter is out. Behind this simple shout lies a whole process with strict rules about who may appeal, when, and what happens next. This guide explains the appeal from the shout to the raised finger.

The Appeal Process at a Glance

Every dismissal in cricket, except a few automatic ones like bowled and hit wicket where the appeal is a formality, follows these steps. Skip the appeal and the umpire cannot give the batter out, no matter how plumb the LBW looked.

What Does Howzat Mean?

“Howzat” compresses the question “How is that?” into a single roared syllable. The fielding side is asking the umpire: how do you judge that delivery, out or not out? It is less a question than a demand wrapped in tradition, bellowed by eleven players turning hopefully toward one official.

The appeal must be recognisable. The laws do not prescribe exact words, so a shout of “Howzat?”, an extended appeal with arms raised, or even a confident stare at the umpire can count. What matters is that the umpire understands a dismissal is being claimed. A half-hearted murmur from one fielder while the rest stay silent may not register as an appeal at all.

Appeals have their own etiquette. The convention is that the whole close-in cordon joins in, which is why slips, gully and the keeper erupt together on an edge. Bowlers lead the appeal for LBWs, often starting the shout before the ball has even reached the keeper. Excessive, theatrical appealing at every ball is frowned upon and can be penalised as dissent if it becomes haranguing of the umpire.

When Must Players Appeal?

The law is blunt: the umpire shall not give a batter out unless appealed to by the fielding side. This applies to every form of dismissal, including the obvious ones. When the stumps are shattered and the bails fly, the formality of an appeal is usually a cheerful shout, but technically it is still required.

There is one famous exception. A batter who is out of the ground may be given run out without an appeal if the fielding side does not celebrate, but in practice appeals happen anyway. Retired hurt and timed out involve no appeal because no dismissal is claimed in the usual sense.

Timing matters. The appeal should come before the bowler starts the run-up for the next delivery. Late appeals, after the next ball is already in motion, are not entertained. Umpires are instructed to answer appeals promptly, and a delayed finger can cause confusion about whether the appeal was even made.

How the Umpire Judges an Appeal

The umpire who answers is determined by the type of dismissal. The bowler’s-end umpire handles LBWs, bowled (formally), and most appeals at the striker’s end. The square-leg umpire takes run-outs and stumpings at the striker’s end, plus short-pitched and height-related calls. Each knows their territory, and fielders direct their appeals accordingly.

The umpire must decide on what was seen, not on how loudly the appeal was made. A thunderous appeal for a ball missing leg stump by a foot should be calmly turned down, while a polite enquiry about a faint edge should be given out if the umpire is convinced. In practice, sustained, confident appealing can subtly influence marginal calls, which is why teams appeal in numbers.

The signals are universal. A raised index finger means out. A shake of the head, sometimes with a verbal “not out”, means the batter survives. For wides and no-balls the umpire uses sweeping arm gestures, and these calls need no appeal at all since they are umpire-initiated.

Appealing and DRS

The appeal and the review are separate steps that often follow each other. First comes the appeal and the umpire’s decision. Only then can the aggrieved side challenge through DRS, with the fielding captain making the T sign within 15 seconds of the decision.

This order matters tactically. A half-hearted appeal that the umpire waves away can still become a wicket if the captain reviews and ball tracking shows three reds. Smart keepers and slip fielders now appeal confidently on anything close, knowing DRS can correct an on-field not-out. The appeal has become the gateway to the review.

There is a subtle consequence. Because players know DRS exists, appealing has become more enthusiastic, even speculative. Umpires report that the volume and frequency of appeals rose after DRS arrived, as fielders treat the appeal as a free lottery ticket to the third umpire. The laws still require the appeal to be genuine, and umpires can warn teams about frivolous, concerted appealing.

Famous Appeals in Cricket History

Some appeals are remembered as vividly as the wickets they produced. The long, theatrical LBW appeals of Pakistan’s great fast bowlers turned the shout into performance art, with the whole team converging on the umpire in a wave of noise and raised arms.

Controversial non-appeals are remembered too. In a famous Ashes moment, a batter was bowled by a delivery that clipped the stumps without dislodging the bails, and the fielding side’s muted reaction meant play simply continued. The laws were clear: no appeal, no wicket, even with the stumps disturbed.

The withdrawn appeal is cricket’s great sportsmanship gesture. When a batter has been given out but the fielding captain feels the dismissal was unfair, for example a catch claimed off a bump ball, the captain can withdraw the appeal and recall the batter. It happens rarely, which is why each instance becomes part of the sport’s folklore.

Appeal Etiquette and Misconduct

The spirit of cricket expects appeals to be sporting. Shouting directly into the umpire’s face, prolonged screaming after the decision is given, or appealing when everyone knows the batter is not out crosses into dissent. Umpires first warn, then report, and the match referee can fine players for repeated offences.

Questioning the umpire’s decision beyond the appeal is forbidden. Players may ask politely for clarification, but sarcastic comments, bat-waving or lingering at the crease to show disagreement are all punishable. The DRS era added a nuance: visible disappointment at a review outcome is tolerated briefly, but sustained dissent is not.

Junior cricket teaches the appeal early. Young players learn to shout “Howzat?” together, to accept the umpire’s answer without argument, and to congratulate the batter who survives. The ritual, performed millions of times every weekend, is how the sport passes its values down.

FAQs

What does Howzat mean in cricket?

Howzat is short for “How is that?”, the traditional appeal in which the fielding side asks the umpire to rule the batter out. It is shouted, usually in unison, whenever the fielders believe a dismissal has occurred.

Can the umpire give a batter out without an appeal?

No. The laws state the umpire shall not give a batter out unless the fielding side appeals. Even the most obvious dismissal technically requires the formality of an appeal first.

Who answers the appeal, and how?

The umpire at the relevant end answers: the bowler’s-end umpire for LBWs and most striker’s-end appeals, the square-leg umpire for run-outs and stumpings. A raised finger means out; a shake of the head means not out.

What happens after an unsuccessful appeal?

Play continues as normal. The fielding side may then challenge the not-out decision through DRS within 15 seconds, with the third umpire reviewing the incident using ball tracking, UltraEdge and replays.

Can a captain withdraw an appeal?

Yes. If the fielding captain believes the dismissal was unfair, for instance a bump-ball catch, the appeal can be withdrawn and the batter recalled. It is rare and widely admired as sportsmanship.