Appeal (cricket)

In cricket, an appeal is the act by which the fielding team seeks a decision from the umpire as to whether a batsman is out. It is considered good etiquette and a formal requirement for a dismissal to be valid.

The fielding team, or usually the wicket-keeper or bowler, will shout "Howzat?" or a similar phrase in the general direction of the umpire. This signals to the umpire that they believe the batsman is out and prompts the umpire to make a decision. If the appeal is not made, the umpire will generally not declare the batsman out, even if the batsman appears to be dismissed according to the Laws of Cricket.

Appeals are most commonly made for dismissals such as caught, bowled, leg before wicket (LBW), and run out. While a dismissal is possible without an appeal (for example, if a batsman is obviously bowled or handles the ball), umpires are unlikely to offer a dismissal unless specifically requested.

The umpire will then consider all the circumstances and, if satisfied that the batsman is out, will respond with "Out". If unsure, or if the appeal is deemed to be without merit, the umpire will respond with "Not out". The umpire is the sole judge of the facts, and their decision is final (subject to any available DRS, or Decision Review System).

An appeal must be made before the next ball is bowled, or before the umpires leave the field for a break in play. A frivolous or repetitive appeal can be considered unsportsmanlike, although this is rarely penalized.