A match referee is an official appointed to oversee professional

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

matches. Match referees for Test matches and

One Day International One Day International (ODI) is a format of cricket, played between two teams with international status, in which each team faces a fixed number of fifty overs, with the game lasting up to 7 hours. The World Cup, generally held every four yea ...

s are appointed by the

International Cricket Council The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global Sports governing body, governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England, and South Africa. In 1965, the body wa ...

(ICC). Most matches below international level do not have a referee. The match referee's responsibility is to ensure that the

ICC Cricket Code of Conduct The ICC Cricket Code of Conduct is a regulation regarding the conduct of professional players in the sport of cricket. Traditionally, cricket requires "gentlemanly" conduct from all players. The Code of Conduct is written and enforced by the Intern ...

is upheld during the game, to assess any breaches of the Code, and to hand out penalties for any breaches. Following every game, the match referee composes and submits a match report to the ICC, noting any events or actions by players or umpires that may be a concern in terms of the Code of Conduct or the Laws of Cricket, and giving ratings to the quality of the pitch. The match referee remains off the field of play at all times during the actual play of the game, observing events from a spectator area. The referee makes no decisions regarding play; such decisions are the sole responsibility of the appointed umpires. Match referees are frequently former cricket players who have had distinguished careers on the field. Some notable match referees include Ranjan Madugalle, Chris Broad, Jeff Crowe, David Boon and Javagal Srinath. In recent years the law regarding throwing - the unlawful delivery of the

cricket ball A cricket ball is a hard, solid ball used to play cricket. A cricket ball consists of a cork (material), cork core wound with String (structure), string then a leather cover stitched on, and manufacture is regulated by cricket law at first-clas ...

by a bowler because of straightening of the arm at the elbow - has been interpreted as the domain of the match referee and a system of reports to the ICC, rather than a matter for the umpires to decide as a no-ball at each incidence on the field. This de facto migration of responsibility has caused controversy, with some commentators claiming it has eroded the official support and authority owed to the umpires.

References

{{Cricket positions Cricket laws and regulations Sports officiating mr:सामनाधिकारी (क्रिकेट)