The fourth umpire (sometimes referred to as the reserve umpire), is a

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...

umpire An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The term derives from the Old French nonper, ''non'', "not" and ''per' ...

. For all international matches a fourth umpire is required to perform duties like bringing on the new ball, carrying drinks on to the field for the umpires, checking the batteries in the

light meter A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter (more correctly an exposure meter) is used to determine the proper exposure (photography), exposure for a photograph. The meter will include either a Di ...

, observing the pitch during the lunch and tea intervals to make sure there is no interference, or bringing on new bails. The fourth umpire will take over the

third umpire The third umpire (or TV Umpire) is an off- field umpire used in some cricket matches, particularly international matches. Their role is to make the final decision in questions referred to them by the two on-field umpires or the players. The thir ...

duties if something happens to one of the on-field umpires, as the rules state the third umpire will take over on-field duties. For Test matches, the fourth umpire is appointed by the home side's

Governing body A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ...

from their nominees to the International Panel of ICC Umpires, so has the same nationality as the home side. In January 2021, in the third Test match between Australia and India, Australia's Claire Polosak became the first female to officiate in a men's Test match as fourth umpire.

References

Cricket umpiring Cricket laws and regulations {{cricket-term-stub