For the first time in world cricket, the scorers will use the iPad to ensure speedy transmission of every minute detail of the day’s proceedings on the fieldcricket lovers across the world. Thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), each affiliated State Cricket Association is provided with six iPads each with internet data card for the scorers (who qualified in both manual and online scoring).
So, next time the sight of scorers, like the 48-year-old Penumarthi Durga Chandrasekhar, working on the touch screen of the iPad with the BCCI logo, should not surprise.
“This is some kind of revolution and a wonderful gesture on part of the BCCI,” says Chandrasekhar, who is the first Hyderabadi to qualify in 1997 as manual scorer and then in 2005 as a on-line scorer too.
“During the BCCI three-day workshop in Chennai, we were given a feel of what exactly it means. The whole idea is to get rid of the regular problem of non-availability of internet at some of the cricket grounds. The best part is that with this iPad facility, we can do our job even if there is a net connectivity problem; once the net is restored, the scoring gets automatically synchronized to ensure that everything is on time and in tune with the ball-by-ball action on the field,” explains Chandrasekhar who is also a qualified umpire.
“On-line scorers will work in coordination with the zonal coordinators who in turn will be in touch with the BCCI headquarters official in Mumbai.
Henceforth, the fans will also get a pictorial presentation of what is happening in all domestic matches including Ranji and Duleep Trophy for you have the wagon wheels and also commentary as is the case with Cricinfo updates on major events,” says the articulate Chandrasekhar.
Any issues with the new system? “Well, because it is a touch screen, we have to be extremely cautious.
And, in this software, there is no ‘undo’ option to make any on-the-spot corrections; like say if the umpire reverts his decision to declare a six to a four. So, I feel we can pause for a few seconds more before the start of the next ball to be clear in our scoring,” feels the HCA scorer.