Soft Signal Abolished: How TV Umpires Now Decide

The soft signal was one of cricket's most awkward umpiring conventions. The on-field umpire, often standing 30 metres from a low catch, had to give a definitive "out" or "not out" signal before sending the decision upstairs - and the TV umpire could only overturn it with conclusive evidence. The rule was abolished by the ICC in June 2023 after years of pressure from players, captains and broadcasters. This piece walks through what changed, how decisions are now made, the key matches affected, and what the abolition has meant for the game.

The Hook: A Real Example

World Test Championship Final, 2023. Cameron Green, fielding at gully, dives forward and claims a catch off Shubman Gill. The on-field umpires confer; one signals "soft signal: out." The replay is sent upstairs. The TV umpire watches multiple angles - the catch is close, the ball appears to brush the turf - but cannot find conclusive evidence to overturn. Gill is given out. The on-field soft signal has effectively decided the dismissal.

That moment, in a tournament-deciding match, was one of several that pushed the ICC to act. Within weeks of the WTC Final, the ICC's Cricket Committee recommended abolition; the change was confirmed in June 2023.

What Was The Soft Signal?

The soft signal was an on-field umpire's preliminary decision (out or not out), conveyed to the TV umpire when a catch was referred upstairs. The TV umpire could only overturn the soft signal if there was conclusive evidence to the contrary.

In effect, this meant inconclusive replays - common on low catches - defaulted to the on-field umpire's view. The umpire's view, often from 30 metres or more, was less informative than the multi-angle TV picture. The asymmetry was the source of frustration.

The system had originated as a safety net - if the TV umpire could not be sure, the on-field umpire's judgement would prevail. In practice, the on-field umpire's soft signal too often dictated the final outcome.

The June 2023 Change

The ICC's 2023 update was clean and complete:

1. Soft signals were abolished entirely.
2. When a catch is referred to the TV umpire, the TV umpire makes the decision outright.
3. If the TV umpire cannot determine conclusively, the decision is "not out" - benefit to the batter.
4. The on-field umpire informs the TV umpire of the situation but does not give a soft signal.

The change applied to all ICC events from June 2023 onwards. ICC member-board playing conditions, IPL playing conditions and other domestic competitions followed.

For broader DRS-and-umpiring context, our umpire's call DRS rule explainer covers the next-most-debated technology call.

How Decisions Are Made Now

The current process for low-catch referrals:

1. Fielder claims the catch; batter does not walk.
2. On-field umpires confer; refer the decision upstairs.
3. TV umpire reviews multiple angles - typically front-on, side-on and zoom views.
4. TV umpire makes the decision: out, not out, or - if inconclusive - not out by default.
5. The decision is communicated to the on-field umpire, who signals the result.

The TV umpire now has full authority. There is no fallback to an on-field judgement.

Before June 2023	After June 2023
On-field gave soft signal	No soft signal
TV umpire could overturn	TV umpire decides outright
Inconclusive = soft signal	Inconclusive = not out
Batter often disadvantaged	Benefit of doubt to batter

Key Matches Affected By The Change

The 2023 WTC Final case was the most-cited pre-abolition incident. Other notable cases pre-2023 included the Joe Root catch controversy in the 2021 Ashes and several 2022 IPL low catches.

Post-abolition, the most discussed cases have been clean overturns - decisions where the TV umpire has straightforwardly given not out on inconclusive evidence. The 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2024-25 home and away cycles, and the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons have not produced a similar level of controversy on low catches.

Common Misconceptions

The most common is the belief that the soft signal was abolished only for catches. Yes - the rule applied specifically to catch referrals; other DRS reviews (LBW, run-out, stumping) work on different mechanics.

The second is that the on-field umpire still gives a preliminary signal. They do not - the on-field umpire simply refers the decision and provides factual context if asked.

The third is that the change has slowed decision-making. It has not - the TV umpire's timeline has held; the conferring step is shorter, not longer.

For broader umpiring evolution, our boundary count rule history covers another rule the ICC retired.

Impact On The Game

The two clearest impacts are:

First, decisions on low catches now routinely go to the batter when the evidence is inconclusive. The volume of overturned-via-soft-signal-to-not-out outcomes has grown.

Second, on-field umpires no longer carry the burden of a 30-metre judgement. The mental load on the standing umpires has reduced.

For Tests, the abolition has been particularly significant - low catches are more frequent in Tests than in white-ball cricket, and the cumulative effect is real. For IPL and other T20 leagues, the change has been less visible but still material.

For broader IPL context, our IPL points table tracks the season. Fantasy followers can track related picks via our Dream11 hub. For tactical context on related rule applications such as the free hit rule and concussion substitute rule, the modern umpiring environment is the operating context.

The Critic Vs Supporter Case

Critics argued at the time of abolition that on-field umpires' expertise should still inform the final call - they have seen the catch live, the TV cannot replicate that sensory data.

Supporters argued the asymmetry of evidence was unfair to batters. The TV umpire has more angles, more zoom, more time; the soft signal was an arbitrary anchor.

Three years on, the supporter case has held. The cricketing community has accepted the change without significant pushback.

FAQ

When was the soft signal abolished? June 2023, by the ICC, with effect from subsequent ICC events.

Does the on-field umpire still give a signal? No. Catch referrals now go to the TV umpire, who decides outright.

What happens if the TV umpire cannot decide? The decision is "not out" by default - benefit of doubt to the batter.

Does the abolition apply to all formats? Yes - Tests, ODIs, T20Is, IPL, WPL and other major competitions follow ICC playing conditions.

Can the soft signal return? Possible, but unlikely. The cricketing community has accepted the change.