What Exactly Is The Clause Of Judging A Wide Ball In Limited Overs Cricket?

Umpires have come under immense scrutiny over some calls on wide balls during the IPL 2022.

Cricket Image for What Exactly Is The Clause Of Judging A Wide Ball In Limited Overs Cricket? ((Image Source: Google) Sanju Samson talking with umpire during an IPL 2022 match)

Umpiring is a tough job since the decisions that are needed to be made are in real-time. They don't have the privilege of watching the action in slow-mo replays 5-6 times to come to a conclusion. Yet almost all the decisions are correctly made according to the playing conditions. 

Then what makes players defer from the umpiring decisions and we see them discussing/arguing with each other. All the umpires that are deployed are highly professional ones and they have trained for years, just like the players, to stand where they are standing. They are trained experts in their fields just like the players are.

Umpires know each and every clause of the playing conditions and they make sure to follow it on each ball. Not many players know all the clauses and that is one of the major reasons why we see them talking to the umpires on most decisions. 

In IPL 2022, one of the major points of discussion going around is the wide decisions taken by umpires during the games. While the leg-stump wide isn't much of a problem, the off-stump wide is where the debates are happening. 

The bowlers try to bowl way outside off-stump to batters, especially in the slog overs to keep the ball out of reach for the batters. This is called the wide-line tactic where the bowlers try to pitch the ball just inside the popping crease. It is a gamble and the batters know what bowlers are doing so they try to shuffle across to get a better reach of the ball. 

Now, the IPL 2022 playing conditions 22.1. of judging the wide, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in clause 22.1.2 - The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within reach for him to be able to hit it with the bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.

22.1.1.1 says the ball passes wide of where the striker is standing and which also would have passed wide of the striker standing in a normal guard position.

Basically what it means is that if the batter is moving towards the ball bowled wide of the off stump, then umpires have to interpret how wide has the bowler gone and if the batter is in reach of the ball after he/she has moved across. 

The interpretation of the umpires is well according to what the rules suggest and there is nothing wrong with what they decide. If the bowler has bowled even wide of the returning crease, then the ball shall be given wide by any means. 

The debates are always due to the interpretation of the umpires but by no means are they biased as some viewers suggest. While there is still scope for players using a DRS to even review wides and no-balls, even then, most of them won't be turned and the umpires' decision will stand just like how it happens in the case of dismissals. Let the umpires do their job, they know what they are doing. Yet, just for the sake of players' satisfaction, DRS for wides or no-balls could be a good idea.