Tasmania University Cricket Club

Latest News (1st. November 2006)

Computer scoring arrives at TCA clubs.

With less than two weeks to the seaon's opening the TCA eventually gave clubs the information about two new software systems we would be expected to use this season. The first was to be used for scoring all 1st. and 2nd. grade games, the second for registering players, updating scores and so on. Unfortunately they're incompatible. Let's concentrate on the better of the two.

A couple of short courses on how to use them both (at Bellerive) and those who had an Internet connection at home could use either, but not on the laptops as they stayed at Bellerive pending legit versions of the scoring stuff being installed. With a few days to go before the first round the scoring fraternity were eventaully handed their laptops (and asked to take them to a shop to collect printers for installation). Printers weren't there so off to the first games and 'away you go'. For the first season we'll be using the laptops there will be someone else scoring traditionally as a backup.

I'd scored with or trialled four cricket scoring programmes previously and all had at least one major area of concern, mostly in correcting errors past the last ball bowled. As all the other Associations started a week prior to the TCA I headed south and scored a whole (50 over) game to see how it stacked up. It was easy, easy, easy. Had to tell the software twice that it had the wrong batsman on strike (a run-out and a very skied catch) but the rest just did its thing beautifully.

The first time we used it at Uni. we had two pc's running the game with Kingborough's scorer doing the book. Another 50 over game and things went just the same. Once the game is started anyone could score an innings. The set-up for a game (or how to alter players, match conditions etc. through it) is what presents problems.

Last week's two day game at Uni. presented probably as many problems as we'd ever meet. First Grade (12 players) with four of the combined teams heading off at 3 pm to play for Tassie 2's and substitutes galore, all in a couple of minutes. Darby Munro (left - the home team scorer!) took a while to sort things out (whilst I had time to take the pic)! The game re-started and I scored, Darby got the players organised and caught up in 30 seconds and away we went again.

This scoring software is brilliant. Having used it twice and then having to go back to the book irked me. The company that provides this software will remain anonymous for the time being (I'd never found them on a search for cricket scoring software) - a large promo on the website if they give us a freebie for our own laptop!

But there are problems. Uni. have their two top scorers and reserve up to date with the software; other clubs don't. This will mean that, on occasions, Uni. scorers at away games may be using the home team's laptop. Print out the scoresheets at the end of the game for the record and then export the match where? If the other clubs doesn't have someone who can use their Club's laptop then it would be surprising if they had Internet settings installed on their laptop to send us the scorecard! Not even a possibility from some of the grounds anyway. A USB storage drive may well be an option. We'll have to wait and see.

Finally there's yet another plus for the laptops. You can add another monitor and, with a length of cable, have it sitting in the players' area - no more requests for the score ever again! Could get a bit lonely in the scorer's box though?


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