How many times one has written a scorecard in his childhood days while being a die-hard fan for their respective countries? And had you ever thought what it takes to update manual scoreboards!
The scoreboard is one of the prominent aspects of cricket where scorers work hard to keep the passionate cricket lovers updated during the game.
Behind the scenes, the scorers prepare just like cricketers practice before a game.
In New Zealand’s Wellington at Basin Reserve – the oldest Test venue, it becomes evident for us where energetic scorers work behind the scoreboard to keep it ticking since 1981.
“It is a lot of running around, but it’s sort of anticipating what’s going to happen,” said Cricket Wellington operations executive Ryan Holland.
The Wellington scoreboard is constructed on five floors which are further interconnected with wooden staircases to make the process smooth.
“I think once you’ve spent a couple of days in here, you get a better understanding and you know what to do.” said Holland on the scoreboard.
Behind the green-white combination scoreboard – the 6-members communicate with each other to replace the names and numbers while coming down the stairs and going up speedily to match it up with the live action on the ground.
“You probably need a little bit of fitness, because there are four levels in the scoreboard, and a bit of tactical nous about you. You want to anticipate what’s happening, you don’t want to leave it until the end of the over,” Holland added while stating that he wants to make slight adjustments in the scoreboard.
The scorers go to the top floor when a wicket falls to replace the name of the outgoing batsman. Scorers keep it simple and smooth for the audiences with much action going on at the second floor to update bowlers’ figures.
“I think the majority of people that have worked in the scoreboard have had a genuine interest in cricket, so they know what’s going on, Holland remarked.
There has also been a light installed on the scoreboard to give a confirmation to the viewers who’s bowling.
In the ground floor, the electronic scoreboard is updated on the left portion of the scoreboard. The letter and numbers are spun around to make readily changes every over followed by overs left.
In 2002, the gusty winds at Wellington had been a headache for the scorers during a game between New Zealand and England when makeshift letters fall-off which further results in the loss of the letters.
“It caused a little bit of embarrassment for everybody, but I think we reflected after that and made a few changes and the letters slot in perfectly well now,” Holland concluded.