CHENNAI: The scoring system for domestic cricket matches is ready for a major upgrading. From the season starting in October, scorers will use iPads instead of laptops, paving the way for more sophisticated and efficient scoring and transfer of data to the BCCI website.
For about six years, scores of all first-class and senior one-day matches have been updated live on this website, from official scorers present at the venues. Scores from all other fixtures are uploaded, some getting updates after sessions.
BCCI Senior Manager, Game Development, Ratnakar Shetty said including men’s, women’s and junior cricket, the board conducts 870 matches a season. By providing about 150 iPads to scorers, the board is trying to overhaul the system.
“It’s a new project initiated by the data management sub-committee. From October, this system will be in place in all domestic matches. The scorers will use iPdas. We have tied up with a company and developed our own software. Our panel is conducting seminars in five zones so that the scorers get used to the system,” said Shetty.
The official didn’t disclose the name of the company and refused to give an estimate of the cost. “We are doing this with the help of a vendor,” Shetty said.
According to unconfirmed sources, a Chennai-based firm has developed this software. The seminars started with the East Zone chapter involving 19 scorers in Kolkata from August 7-9. New Delhi (North), Vadodara (West), Indore (Central) and Chennai (South) are the other stops.
Shetty informed this system has been experimentally tried out in the ongoing Chennai league. Local scorers said it was faster and iPads will ensure better functioning.
All scorers accredited by the BCCI are expected to get their devices in the first week of September. Earlier, they had to use own laptops with the local organisations providing internet connection. Now, the scorers will be fitted with accessories supplied by the board. They are paid `5000 for a day’s work, the amount being the same in senior and junior matches.
“It’s the best software that I have seen. Uploading data after a disruption in connection was time-consuming in the previous system. In this, we can continue working off-line after logging in initially and the data gets uploaded smoothly once the connection is back. There is provision for live commentary as well,” said a scorer, who has been on the BCCI panel for a long time.