Pembroke Cricket Club

Posted by Geraldine Banks

It may surprise some of you (but not others !) to know that I have been doing the score book for the Pembroke Men's 1st XI for 21 years. It has often been remarked that I'd have served far less time for murdering someone - and there have indeed been match days when that thought crossed my mind.

 

Anyway, I have decided that at the end of the 2007 season it is time to hang up my pens - and start watching cricket purely as a spectator sport. This means that the 1st XI will need a scorer for the 2008 season onwards. Could that scorer be you ????????????

 

Before you start having a panic attack at the mere thought - you won't have to do the Frindall (Linear) system I use (though personally I think it is a much simpler system than the standard 'box' version) - and you don't even have to use coloured pens (but they also help). I will be offering training in basic Laws, standard scoring - and Frindall if you are interested - together with the Duckworth Lewis system of calculating rain affected scores/targets. As almost all Senior cricket now uses D/L this is a must.

 

Gerry Byrne has kindly offered to help me out with training - and I am sure that I will also have the support of the LCU&SA (Leinster Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association) who run excellent courses at all levels of cricket scoring - as some of our members can testify.

 

I won't pretend that there isn't a major time commitment involved - and ideally the person (or persons) taking on the role would not be playing regularly - continuity with the team is very important. However, it would be possible to have a team of perhaps 2 or 3 people who could alternate the responsibility through the season.

 

I have been lucky in the past 21 years to score at all levels of cricket from club to International - and have written many a household name into my scorebook. I scored several matches when the ICC Trophy was staged here in Ireland - and was also involved in doing the scoreboards (if not the actual books) for the West Indies vs. Bangladesh World Cup match here in 1999. Cricket scoring can open doors - especially with Ireland's expanding international schedule. So don't write it off as a boring, burdensome activity - it is an essential part of the game, and recognised as such.

 

So - and here's the crunch - if you are interested in finding out more - or maybe even 'shadowing' me for a couple of 1st XI matches, please contact me - gerbanks@cricket.ie - preferably with phone details as well as just your e-mail.

 

I hope to hear from YOU !

 

Geraldine.