What goes through a square-leg umpire’s mind?

#5 Who’s sneaking in behind me?

From protecting themselves to keeping a keen eye on the field, umpires have to do it all

The laws don’t allow more than three fielders behind square leg, one of them being the wicket-keeper. And these players are street-smart. The deep square leg fielder, for example, could be right behind the square leg umpire and it could be touch and go. That’s when square leg umpires find themselves wondering if they really do have a sixth sense, for how else will they sense that fielder inching to the wrong side of the quadrant just when the delivery is being bowled.

The umpire at the bowlers’ end is obviously worried about the bowler’s foot. Some of these guys apparently even bet on no-balls. How terrible! And then there is always the question of the Powerplay, the number of fielders within the circle changing all the time. Too much work for a job that gets no appreciation!