The plastic thing seen on some cricket umpires' arms is a protective device commonly referred to as a "forearm shield" or "arm guard". Most notably worn by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford, this shield is made of bulletproof polycarbonate or perspex (a very strong plastic, also known as acrylic glass), designed to protect the umpire from being struck by fast-moving cricket balls during play.
Purpose and Design
- The shield is strapped to the umpire's non-signalling (usually left) arm.
- It can withstand the force of hard-hitting shots, even sledgehammer blows, due to its tough polycarbonate structure.
- The device was invented by Bruce Oxenford himself after he researched and tested different materials for durability and safety.
Why It Is Used
- With the increasing power and speed of modern cricket shots, umpires standing close to the pitch are at greater risk of injury from batted balls.
- After several incidents and close calls, additional protective measures like this arm shield—and in some cases, helmets—have been introduced for umpire safety.
- Although quite noticeable, the device is not yet widely adopted among all professional cricket umpires.
In summary, the plastic shield on the umpire's arm is a purpose-built protective measure to enhance on-field safety against the threat of high-speed cricket balls.
