Appeal
In many sports, arguing with the judges is pointless. In this case, cricket is an exception. The term appeal in cricket refers to a fielding player’s request to the umpire, asking whether the opposing batsman is out.
Appeal in cricket: The Basic Meaning
A bowler or fielder may make such a request to the umpire. This appeal in cricket is often voiced as “Howzat?” (short for “How’s that?”) or, alternatively, “Howzee?” (“How’s he?”). Cricket is an interesting sport because the umpire may not remove a player from the field if the opponent does not make such a request. This rule is explicitly stated in Law 31 of the Laws of Cricket. At the same time, it is considered the correct behavior of batsmen if they leave the field on their own in such cases.
Taking a wicket is a significant moment in a match, which is why fielding players typically shout “Howzat?” with enthusiasm and excitement. Sometimes the phrase is drawn out, sounding like two separate words: “How?” and “Zat?”. In fact, “zat” does not exist; it’s just how the word “that” is pronounced. When performing an appeal, players usually raise their hands up or simply let the umpire know that the opponent’s batsman is out of the game. In amateur matches, you can hear different shouts, in which there will be one constant phenomenon — an expression of joy.
As mentioned above, batsmen are expected to leave the field voluntarily in obvious cases, although no rule explicitly requires this. This means that a player can wait for the umpire’s decision, even if the situation seems clear. Sometimes it happens that it is not always possible to determine whether the ball hit the bat or not. The highest form of fair play is when a batsman walks off, even if their teammates are uncertain about the dismissal.
Appeal in cricket: Similar Meaning In Baseball
In baseball, a similar action is called appeal play. It indicates a signal from the players towards the referee in situations when the referee does not notice any violation. In baseball, players turn to umpires on several occasions. For example, if you failed to catch a ball that was caught in-flight. This also happens if it was impossible to touch all previous bases in order or the last base.
At the same time, the methods of appeal to referees in cricket and baseball are different. In baseball, a player must “tag” the runner or the disputed base to complete an appeal. The appeal in cricket and baseball can also be made through non-verbal gestures, requiring the umpire to respond accordingly. Additionally, appeal plays in baseball are more frequently unsuccessful compared to appeals in cricket.
