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Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring & Scoring

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Written by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the Custodian of the Laws of Cricket, this fully revised edition of Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring covers all the changes made in the 2017 Code, up to the third edition (2022).

This book provides umpires, scorers and all other cricket lovers with a detailed but straightforward analysis of the Laws of Cricket. It is a vital aid for umpires just starting out their training, right up to those operating at Test match level, or even for cricket fans who just want to understand the game better.

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1980

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Ernest.
1,126 reviews13 followers
September 2, 2025
Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring is the definitive commentary to the Laws of Cricket. With a forward by respected cricket commentator and former Australian captain Richie Benaud, this book is the staple of umpires, administrators and commentators the cricket world over. Each law is both quoted in totality and explained with pictures, diagrams and clear and concise commentary. Many umpires and commentators consult Tom Smith’s to understand or clarify an understanding of a law or its application in unusual situations. I attempt to reread this book once a year to improve my umpiring.

I note that this book’s edition related to the Laws of Cricket 2000 Code 4th Edition 2010. Since then, there have been limited but still important to know changes to the Laws of Cricket, coming into effect in 2013. Umpires and those interested in cricket should be aware of those changes when both reading this book and in applying the laws of cricket.

This book is a staple of cricket umpires the world over and after the Laws of Cricket themselves, should be read by every new cricket umpire to aid them in their progress. Regular umpires will also gain much from (re)reading this book, refreshing their knowledge or gaining understanding on a point previously assumed. More widely, those involved in cricket more generally, including players, coaches, and administrators, can also benefit from reading this book to actually understand the laws under which they play, and not what they believe the laws to be.
Profile Image for Arjun.
608 reviews32 followers
April 26, 2023
So, I read "Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring & Scoring" by Tom Smith. And let me tell you, it's a real page-turner. If you're into cricket, that is. Smith knows his stuff when it comes to umpiring and scoring, and he breaks it down in a way that's easy to understand. And hey, even if you're not a cricket fan, you might learn a thing or two. But let's be honest, this book is not gonna be for everyone. If you're looking for a wild ride with twists and turns, this ain't it. But if you're a cricket nerd, you'll dig it. Cheers.
139 reviews
March 24, 2010
For those interested in the Umpiring and Scoring of Cricket matches, this book contains everything you could be looking for. Unfortunately the way it is written, its as boring as hell to read, hence why is took me 6 weeks to read it. While it contains everything you could want to know about Umpiring and Scoring, it is hard to read more then a few pages at a time. May be best left to the collectors and the cricket buffs, and even they may struggle to get through this one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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