| Cricket scoring is a bit more intricate than scoring for | | | | modern cricket, scorers must not merely account for |
| other sports because it requires much detail. In | | | | runs scored and wickets, but also how many balls are |
| modern cricket, every ball that is bowled is recorded | | | | bowled. In earlier cricket matches, this information |
| - whether or not a run is scored or wicket is taken. | | | | was not provided. Since the advent of one-day |
| However, cricket scoring basically involves runs and | | | | cricket, scorers keep a record of all balls faced for |
| wickets. From there, a cricket scorer must note the | | | | Test matches as well, making it possible to determine |
| number of balls bowled (legal or otherwise), innings | | | | a batsman's strike rate. |
| extras and the players involved. | | | | The cricket scorer is the ultimate record-keeper for |
| Cricket scoring seems more like accounting. At the | | | | the game of cricket, as is the football (soccer) |
| end of the match, everything must 'balance'. For | | | | referee. However, the umpires in cricket have |
| example, if a team scores 300 runs in an innings with | | | | enough on their hands, so there merely indicate to |
| contributions from batsmen totalling 270 - the | | | | the scorer whether a run has been scored off the |
| difference of 30 runs should be attributed to extras | | | | bat, if it's a leg bye, if a boundary is scored and if a |
| (and even penalty runs). If it doesn't, then there is a | | | | delivery is legal or not. |
| discrepancy in the score. | | | | The scorer must keep track of every batsman, |
| The basic premise of scoring in cricket is to record | | | | every bowler and every ball bowled. The mode of |
| the number of runs scored against the number of | | | | dismissal must also be indicated. On the bowling side, |
| wickets that have fallen for the batting side. The | | | | scorers keep tabs on how many overs a bowler |
| scorer must also ascertain which bowler took a | | | | delivered, how many of those were maidens, runs |
| wicket or if the wicket falls by another means. Runs | | | | conceded and wickets taken. |
| are attributed to batsmen while wickets are | | | | Depending on the level of importance of a match, |
| attributed to bowlers. | | | | more detail may be required, such as the fall of a |
| You must also have a fair idea of the laws of the | | | | wicket and the number of minutes per innings (even |
| game. Knowing what 'extras' denotes is vital, | | | | the number of minutes and balls a batsman's innings |
| especially since they are commonplace in a game of | | | | occupied). While it may seem like a fairly intricate |
| cricket. Naturally, extras are normally either recorded | | | | task, cricket scoring basically just records the |
| in the 'Extras' section, but there is a distinction | | | | outcomes of matches and helps to create a |
| between extras attributed to the team (leg byes, | | | | database of records for teams and players. Cricket |
| byes) and extras attributed to bowlers. Also, scorers | | | | scoring is a specialist job which requires training to |
| may encounter situations where penalty runs are | | | | undertake. Even when a match is boring, a cricket |
| applied (added or deducted). | | | | scorer never has the luxury of thumb-twiddling. |
| There are certain scoring conventions in cricket. In | | | | |