SPECIAL

Notchers’ News
POINTS OF
INTEREST:

• Experiences of two
‘novice’ scorers (pages
1 and 4)

• Cricket scoring in
Europe (page 2)
ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2008
• Cricket needs Scorers.

The network for scorers

An adaptation of a
presentation by John
Proctor. (page 3)

• Adverts & useful ad-

dresses (page 4) This newsletter is your forum for sharing news and experiences, discussing scoring
issues and networking.

From the Editor

Thanks for your comments, contributions and for sharing the newsletter with others.

In putting this issue together I couldn’t help but notice that several articles share a similar theme.
While they certainly need scorers, clubs, players and umpires often have unrealistic expectations of
The newsletter can only be successful if it receives copy for

scorers. We can’t always know all the players and may need help to identify batsmen, bowlers and
Publication. Please submit articles, letters and questions to

catchers. The score board must come second — and ideally should be operated by someone other than
the scorer. The scorer needs to remain focused on recording events on the field of play.
We can produce balanced scoring records at the end of each match but, if we don’t know the names of
batsmen and bowlers, clubs may well have less than accurate statistics at the end of each season!

I’m advised that you can look forward to the receiving the Christmas Challenge in the next issue.

Bowler’s name please?!

[email protected]

Thoughts from a Baby Scorer (Jackie Chapman)

I'm only in my first season as a trained scorer, having helmets!

nearly completed the excellent, but tough ACU&S Adult sides are a little easier to identify, but I have to
standard level correspondence course. I say tough, be very careful to rub out any identification marks I've
as, although when working from a script there's scribbled in the margin - 'tubby', 'balding' or 'runs like
plenty of time to consider each point before putting a duck' are definitely not comments likely to endear
pen to paper (almost never possible during a game), myself to players who come to look over my shoulder at
it's not the same as having live bodies running around their scores!
on the field.
What bliss it is when a left-hander comes in to bat. I'm
I don't belong to a club or a side, but travel around often so caught up with identifying tiny flashes of
the West Midlands with my partner, who is an colour on helmets, boots, bat handles or deciding which
independent professional umpire. And this brings me batsman is taller/shorter/slimmer than the other that I
to my point - the anguished cry from the score box, have been known to only notice a left-hander after six
"bowler's name please?!!" or seven overs have gone by - doh! At a match recently,
I gaily marked 'L/H' against a batsman's name, only to
Now, as a free-lance scorer, willing to help out
be confronted by a succession of six more southpaws in
whenever needed, I don't even know the home team's
his wake!
names, let alone those of the visitors. Often, I am
left on my own to cope as best I can - or sometimes I cannot stress enough the delight of a different
given one or more of the players to sit with me, but coloured cap or a bowler with a mane of red hair - and
they're usually reluctant to get stuck with the job once, just once, a whole team sported large numbers and
for very long. It's a real treat to be partnered with a their names on their backs! Heaven!
real scorer.
So, players, the next time you hear that plaintive re-
So I go to great lengths to find ways of identifying
quest from the score box, have a heart and give us a
players - a task made even more difficult in school
clue - even if it's only wearing your jock strap over your
and youth games when there are fewer differences in
trousers!
physique and they nearly all wear dark blue
 ISSUE 2 PAGE 2

Scoring, European Style by Wraye Wenigmann

Deutscher Cricket Bund (DCB) Women’s Cricket Officer & ACU&S Qualified Scorer

In August 2008 Germany were proud Those fine boys were pens with flair and knew exactly who was
hosts to the ICC Europe U17 Division 2 microscopic pristine white dots on the down at third man by the way he walked.
championship games – our first official outfield with identical red caps hiding their We won against Greece, our only win of the
tournament and a fitting celebration for hair. event, but I was so proud of the team who
Germany’s 20th anniversary membership had played throughout in the Spirit of the
of the ICC. A huge team of volunteers Why did I ever become a scorer? game. I could happily have scored another
had been working hard for months to week or more for them. Good weather,
ensure that all went well for our guests. good cricket, a great tournament, who could
No numbers, no names, no clue. Vincent ask for more? The boys though had some-
The grounds were reseeded, rolled and
was the ultimate professional and ripped thing in store for me.
nurtured to smooth green velvet.
through his end-of-over checks faster than
Accommodation and transport booked, At the gala dinner at the end of the week,
the local speed limit leaving me fumbling,
food, hospitality tents and a fleet of the ICC was kind enough to officially thank
bumbling and breathless. Ingeborg Bevers,
journalists on hand. All was prepared. the scorers and all were given a commemo-
our third umpire kindly brought us
What could possibly go wrong? rative present. As we took the stage for the
sandwiches for lunch and I used the time
group photograph, the German team stood
It took just one short phone call, “You wisely to look for grass stains on players
and gave me a huge cheer. I literally had
do know that you are scoring all the trousers or any other clue to their
tears in my eyes. It’s not the result but how
Germany games next week, don’t you?”. identities. Without my training, I would
the game is played.
With my home ground closed for the have been sunk. Germany lost the game
renovation and my second team on tour and the boys, dispirited, tired and hungry
in Holland, I suddenly realised that I was sped to the tour bus. I quickly filled out That’s why I LOVE being a scorer.
sadly and badly out of practise. There the official result sheet, packed my bag and
was no alternative. I had to spend several shot to the bathroom, emerging minutes
hours a day listening to and scoring from later to see the bus disappearing over the
TMS to get back up to speed. horizon.
I met ‘my boys’ for the first time in the What a miserable start to the tournament.
hotel on the evening before the first Why did I ever become a scorer?
game and this bevy of strapping young
Game two against Israel went better.
lads bore no resemblance whatsoever to
Apologies had been given and gracefully
the mug shots I had been sent by email.
accepted. Actions and grass stains were
Still, no worries, as our game was against
slowly connecting with names.
France at a ground I knew well and with
Both teams played well to reach an
fellow scorer Vincent Buisson who I
exciting last ball decider in a game badly
respect highly.
affected by rain. A thrilling day.
ICC Europe U17 competition Scorers
My heart sank as we lost the toss and This is why I enjoy being a scorer.
fielded first. By the last day, I could twirl my coloured Germany. August 2008

Philip Stallard responds to John Gothard’s questions and observations:

I don’t like scoring on his own, and thankfully it doesn't happen very often (South Wales Premier League Premier Division). If it does
happen I will not complete both books during play under any circumstances
Our league doesn’t have a mandatory scorer requirement but it would be a good thing if it was the case, though difficult to enforce at
lower levels
On anomalies in scoring — basically more training is needed
Most clubs have the telegraph in the score box so not a problem for me. If it's separate from the score box I make sure that the host
club provides someone to operate it.
I'd be happy with a scorer's insignia .... what about a quill pen and parchment?
(Editor’s comment: If you have joined ECB ACO or IICUS you should canvas them with your insignia suggestions )

Name the newsletter

Four readers have offered alternative names as follows: “Scoring record”, “From the (Score) Box”, “Notchers” and “Notchers’ News”.
“Notchers’ News” has been in this issue - did you notice? Unless there is a strong voice for change it will remain as in this issue.

Unusual score book entries, interesting matches scored and worst score box
I’m receiving quite a bit of copy and plan to devote space to these in future issues.
Please keep sending your stories.
 ISSUE 2 PAGE 3

WHO NEEDS SCORERS?

By John Proctor, ACU&S Qualified umpire and scorer instructor.

My comment ‘cricket needs scorers’ (1st issue) reminded of a presentation given by John Proctor at an ACU&S Seminar for umpires and
scorers some years ago BUT, unfortunately it appears to be still relevant today.
As only a small percentage of the “Notchers’ News “ readers had the opportunity to hear it, with John’s kind permission part 1 of an
abridged version is reproduced in this issue

Cricket matches need umpires and scorers The team of officials can increase their mutual enjoyment by
The MCC 2000 Code of Laws includes the following:- co-operation and attention to detail.
Law 3.1 The match result need scorers
Before the match, two umpires shall be appointed, one for each Whether the scorer has the capacity to influence the outcome of
end, to control the game as required by the Laws, with absolute
impartiality. ... ... ...” the game is arguable. Sometimes, especially when disputes arise, I
am called upon to comment on the accuracy or otherwise of a
Law 4.1 scoring record. The following two incidents may serve to illustrate
“Two scorers shall be appointed to record all runs scored, all
wickets taken and, where appropriate, number of overs bowled my point about influencing the outcome:
Whether scorers work harder and require greater concentration In the semi final of the indoor cup competition the lone scorer had
than the Umpires is arguable. Both have to watch every delivery incorrectly totalled the score of (his) team and posted that on the
and its outcome. board as the target for the team batting second.
…. but what of the norm in club cricket where there is often only The winning run came off the last delivery.
one scorer?
Later the Competition Secretary found the error. He recalled the
That score box needs another scorer losing captain had not been entirely happy with the result.
Not only alone but having to deal with incessant enquiries about I re-scored the game, confirmed that the wrong team had pro-
how many Bill needs for his 50 or how many balls has Fred faced. gressed to the Final.
Difficult though it may be to believe, I try to deal civilly with such
questions, sometimes even cheerfully, as part of my contribution to The result stood; that scorer is still used week in and week out by
the information process but sometimes ‘off’ is the last of two his club because they put their disappointment behind them accept-
words in a terse reply. ing that the error was not deliberate but caused by the frantic ac-
Having experience of both umpire and scoring tasks over many tivity which is a part of the scorers lot in these fast moving games.
years I believe sustained concentration is probably greater for the So an accidental cock up. Two scorers might have prevented that
scorer. Whether scorers work harder and require greater
concentration than the umpires is arguable and, whatever the truth wrong result, the irony is that the team which did provide the
of the situation it behoves all of us, umpires and scorers to work as scorer ended up losing.
a team — the third team Now an example of possible manipulation of the scoring record.
Umpires need scorers
Two Premier league teams playing, one pushing for the Champion-
Scorers are taught not to embarrass the umpire who persistently ship and one facing demotion and loss of status.
miscounts. Maybe we should teach umpires not to bawl “scorers”
at the top of their voices when acknowledgment of their signals is The visiting side (the Championship contenders) did not have their
slower than they might prefer. regular and very experienced scorer due to illness but did have a
reasonably competent stand in. The Home side (facing relegation)
Not all umpires even wait for that acknowledgment, however quick
it might be, and that can give rise to scoring errors with possible did not have their regular scorer either and the book was in the
effects on the result. hands of their Chairman.
Bawling ‘scoreboard or telegraph’ is also unacceptable. It is not the After 10 frustrating overs, during which time the home scribe re-
scorers job to maintain the board and umpires could do their fused to co- operate with end of over etc checks and was generally
colleagues a service by agreeing with the captains that the batting not forthcoming, the visiting stand in scorer threw in the towel and
side should do this job if there is no other operator available. stomped out of the box.
Teamwork and co-operation are the key to a successful third team. Irresponsible but not entirely surprising in the circumstances.
Do we always involve the scorers in our pre match conference? The home side won by one run!
When umpiring, are our signals always in accordance with the laws? Later examination of the visitors score book, copied up after the
• Are we casual leg shakers for leg byes or do we execute the match, showed no evidence of a six in one batsman’s innings, an
signal properly; event clearly remembered by the team, the player and the umpire.
• Do we remember to turn in profile to give the scorer a better A check with the host club confirmed there was no record in their
chance of recognizing our message? book either. So it was not a copying error.
Could the home side scorer, its Chairman, knowing the outcome of
• On a first class ground the scorers might be 150 yards away losing premier status have fiddled the score???
from the action so clarity in our signalling is vital.
• Are we sure the scorers understood our no ball signal? Who knows - but bad blood existed between the two clubs for
• Are we one of those who only signal wide ball once (to the many years following that sad incident.
players!) and then wonder why things go wrong? Again two competent scorers could have avoided that incident and
• Do we end our boundary 4 signal with arm across the chest as the years of recrimination.
the Law requires?
Did the umpires carry out their responsibilities correctly?
• Do we all remember to check the relevant scoring statistics at
every interval except drinks? Both of those matches needed another scorer
Tolerance is essential. Remember the perfect umpire or scorer has
not yet been born.
Part 2 follows in the next issue with a little bit of scoring history to
Spectators need scorers demonstrate more ways in which scorers are needed.
Everyone is entitled to enjoy the match.
MY NEW MOTTO - DON'T panic.......and .......I am not always wrong!!
By Lin Martin, novice, but learning fast!!!

As a recently qualified (ACU&S) Scorer, I am quite open to the fact that I will make the odd error, but the first three matches I
scored this season went well - every thing added up, all balls bowled = ball received + wides, etc. and I was happy I had settled in.

I was appointed scorer for the 2nd XI of my local club. When scoring my first match I didn’t notice a change of bowler until 4 overs in
but, having used erasable pens, I was quickly able to sort it out. I learnt from this and was being doubly careful at my second match.
I received extra help in that the visiting team scorer was their (non-playing) captain and he knew most of my side as well as his own.

Suddenly, after 30 overs, the umpires yelled at us that the score board was not correct and we were ten runs behind. We had been
diligently checking that we agreed the score and updating the score board accordingly.

I suggested to me colleague that 10 runs was an awful lot for us to have missed, that he should check his book while I continued to
score, then I would do likewise and told him not to panic we could not be THAT adrift!'
Following the checks we both agreed that the score was as it we had put up on the score board.

We acknowledged that the umpires were responsible for the correctness of scores and that they could over-ride our scoring record.

We had, up to this point had two 7 ball overs so I knew we were not the only ones who were struggling with maths!

At tea the umpires descended on the score box and we looked at our figures - they had decided the discrepancy was possibly when 14
runs had been scored off one over - and indeed it was – but the problem wasn’t with the scorers. At the end of that over BOTH um-
pires had totalled the score making 84 + 14 = 108 !!

We had a good chuckle and I was pleased that I had kept my nerve and not gone into panic mode - we had kept up with the game de-
spite checking everything frantically, and at the end, my book still added up exactly right so I felt I had done well.

We had two more 7 ball overs after tea!!

I kept my nerve and didn’t panic

USEFUL EMAIL ADDRESSES

England and Wales Cricket Board Association of Cricket Officials (ECB ACO)
http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/ecb-association-of-cricket-officials/

International Institute of Cricket Umpires and Scorers

http://www.umpires.tv (For scorer specific information email [email protected])

Notchers’ Newsletter [email protected]

Live in Hampshire and Surrey? MILLENNIUM SCORING RECORD

The A3 scoring record originally designed by members of the

Lesley Morgan would like to hear from ACU&S Scorers’ Board
scorers in Hampshire or Surrey who Binder and 50 sheets (= 100 innings) £20 + P&P
may be available to score some friendly Refill pack of 50 sheets £10 + P&P
matches. email [email protected] for details
Contact [email protected]

ACUMEN
Correspondence courses BOOKS
ECB ACO offer an Introductory level course—
details are available on the ECB ACO web site.
For books,
A standard level equivalent course, open to any-
scoring
one wishing to learn more about cricket scoring,
is independently run to the high standards set by
equipment or to
ACU&S.
access the Bulletin Board
visit the Acumen Books
The course fee is £15.00 and details are avail- website at
able from [email protected]
www.acumenbooks.co.uk
Provision of an independently run exam (on simi-
lar lines to the ACU&S exams) will soon be avail-
able. This cannot offer ECB ACO or IICUS ac- Thanks to everyone who submitted copy for this issue.
creditation but will allow scorers recognition in If your contribution didn’t appear in this issue please be
that they have achieved the same level of skill
assured that it has been saved for a future issue.
and competency as another scorer in another
part of the UK or worldwide. December newsletter copy date: 27th October 2008