Scoring and Umpiring
SCORING
Cricket is a statistics based game and scoring can be complex. At the introductory stage however,
keeping score relates to the number of balls and overs faced by the batters, how many runs they
score and how many times they get out.
Some things on the score-sheet are common to all formats and need to be filled in, eg. round
number, venue, date, team names, who won the toss and which team is batting first.
There are 3 sections to a score-sheet: -
. 1) Batting section
. 2) Bowler analysis, and
. 3) Progressive Score. It is important to work methodically through these sections after every ball.
Batting Section
Runs scored off the bat are awarded to the striking batsman
This section is also used to record Sundries or Extras which are runs added to the total that have not
resulted from a ball being struck. Eg. No Balls, Wides, Leg byes and Byes
No Ball – an illegal delivery bowled by the bowler – a batsman can only be out ‘run-out’ off a no-ball.
Wide – a ball out of reach of the batsman
Byes – runs taken by the batsmen, generally when missed
by the wicket-keeper
Leg Byes – are runs taken by the batsmen when the ball has struck part of the
batsman’s body or protective equipment.
Bowler Analysis
This is a record of what happened after each ball has been bowled. If no runs are scored, a ‘dot’ is
placed in the square of the over being bowled. If a 4 is hit, then 4 is recorded etc. No Balls and Wides
are included in this area.
Progressive Score
The total number of runs and Sundries/Extras scored off each ball are added to the Progressive
Score to provide a running total of the innings.
At the end of each over
The scorers should check team and individual totals to make sure they agree. The batsmen’s Runs
scored off the bat + Sundries/Extras = Progressive Total. The bowler’s analysis + leg byes and byes
should also add to the Progressive Total.
UMPIRING
Generally, in junior cricket matches the umpiring is performed by the coaches/parents from each
team. One stands at the bowlers end while the other at ‘square-leg’, in line with the batsman on
strike, at a 90-degree angle to the bowlers end approx. 20 metres from the pitch.
The job of the umpires is to officiate the match under the MCC Laws of Cricket and the
local rules of
competition that may be employed on the day. Generally, 6-ball overs are
bowled with the fielders
changing ends at the conclusion of each over similar to the umpires who also change moving
between the bowling end and square leg.
Umpire decision-making Includes: -
Determining if the batter is out after an appeal by the fielding team.
The most common modes of dismissal are:
Bowled – where the bowler delivers a fair ball that strikes the stumps.
Caught – where a batsman hit the ball in the air and is caught on-the-full
by a fielder.
Run-Out – where a throw breaks the stumps with the batsman out of
their crease.
Stumped – where a batsman misses the ball, is out of their crease and
the wicket-keeper breaks the bails with the ball.
Hit-Wicket - where a batsman strikes the stumps in the act of playing a shot.
Leg before wicket
(LBW) - where a ball has pitches in line with the stumps, struck the batsman on
the pads and in the opinion of the umpire, would have gone on to hit the stumps. Check your
association rules as some playing conditions in young age groups do not include LBW as a dismissal.
Where any doubt exists, the benefit goes to the batsman.
Determining if the bowler’s delivery is fair and legal.
The two terms that apply here are ‘no ball’ and ‘wide’. Your association will have its own
interpretation on the application of each but in general:
A No Ball is a ball bowled where:
. a) The bowler has overstepped the popping crease before releasing the ball, or
. b) Bowled a ball that has bounced too many time before reaching the batter, or
. c) Bowled a ball that reaches the batter on the full (e.g. chest high)
In these circumstances, the umpire calls ‘no ball’ the moment they know to alert the batter and
signal to the scorers.
A Wide is a ball bowled off the pitch and out of reach of the batter. Different game formats will have
different interpretations on this rule.
The umpire calls ‘wide’ and signals to the scorers.
Umpires need to regularly communicate with the scorers. Here are the main signals used:
(Glenmore cricket club, 2016)
