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 striki ...
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 for a photograph. The meter will include either a digital or analog calcul ...
, 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 third ...
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 Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to:
* Test cricket
* Test match (indoor cricket)
* Test match (rugby union)
* Test match (rugby league)
* Test match (association football)
...
, 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 ge ...
from their nominees to the
International Panel of ICC Umpires
The International Panel of ICC Umpires was established by the ICC in 1994 following trial in 1992/3, to ensure that one neutral umpire would stand in every Test match. 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
Claire Antonia Polosak (born 7 April 1988) is an Australian cricket umpire. Polosak is a school teacher by profession. In January 2017, she was one of the four female umpires named by the ICC to stand in matches in the 2017 Women's Cricket World ...
became the first female to officiate in a men's Test match as fourth umpire.