Behind every winning run-chase and historic milestone at Castle Avenue and beyond, there is a dedicated scorer meticulously tracking every delivery! This month, we step into the score box to chat with three of our brilliant volunteers: Lindsey (Youth), Tony (Men’s), and Samuel (Women’s).
Grab a coffee and enjoy the banter as we get to know the folks behind the numbers.
Joining the Scorebox & Finding the Rhythm
DP: “Welcome to the spotlight! How did each of you get sucked into the wonderful world of cricket scoring?”
Tony: “My children started at Friday Night Cricket, and as they progressed into the Youth teams, I was attending more and more games. Wanting to give back, I did the ‘Introduction to Scoring’ course with Stella Downes in 2021. From then on, I was hooked—I actually just scored my 150th game! It starts out mathematical, but you get emotionally involved very quickly.”
Lindsey: “That’s exactly how it started for me, Tony! I have three girls playing youth cricket, so I was at nearly all their matches anyway. I had an interest in scoring but was nervous since I hadn’t done it since school. Taking the plunge was definitely worth it though!”
Samuel: “It’s funny you both mention family, because my route was totally different. When COVID ended my playing days, I started scoring, and Emma asked me to score a Women’s Division 1 match. I was blown away by the teamwork and positivity and now I’m firmly embedded in the Women’s setup and it has become an important part of my social wellbeing.”
Navigating the Chaos
DP: “You cover three distinct sections of the club. What’s the vibe like, and how do you keep a laser focus?”
Samuel: “Cricket can be calm one minute and absolute chaos the next! I successfully navigate the chaos by modelling Stella Downes—always exude calmness and competence. If I stay composed, it’s much easier to maintain focus on the book.”
Tony: “I definitely appreciate that calm, Samuel. That’s why I tend to score from the scorebox—it’s peaceful, has an unobstructed view, and allows us to concentrate without distraction. We learn very quickly that play does not stop and wait for the scorer!”
Lindsey: (Laughing) “Peaceful isn’t the word I’d use for youth cricket, Tony! You constantly have kids coming up asking how many runs they got, or when a batter is retiring so they can get in themselves! You can get easily distracted, so you just have to stay calm and tell them you’ll update them at the end of the over!”
Pen & Paper vs. Digital Tech
DP: “Are you die-hard pen-and-paper purists, or are you fully converted to modern scoring apps?”
Samuel: “I’ll admit it, as an inherently lazy person, I prefer online scoring! It is less effort, more accurate, and gives me time to chat. The nightmare is when technology fails—then you’re making excuses on WhatsApp to the online viewers and begging the other scorer to upload the stats later!”
Lindsey: “I used to be the complete opposite to you, Samuel. Last year I was a die-hard coloured pen purist, terrified of the online world. Then I scored the U17 All Ireland Final online—talk about a baptism of fire! But the app counts the balls faced, which is crucial for youth retirements, so I am officially a convert.”
Tony: “I’m with Lindsey, I’m definitely an online scorer at Castle Avenue now. Everything balances and automatically uploads to Cricket Leinster. But, unlike Samuel, I always record the game on paper scoresheets simultaneously just in case the internet freezes!”
Highlights & Glitches
DP: “What is the single best game you’ve scored, and the trickiest situation you’ve faced?”
Tony: “The best games are those coming down to the last over where everything is at stake. By 7 pm when your heart is in your mouth waiting to record those last few runs, it’s magic! The trickiest? Player identification. Trying to recognise a player through a helmet is tough.”
Lindsey: “My trickiest was definitely that U17 Girls All Ireland Final. I was the only scorer, the system went offline, and a mistake happened during a run-out! Thankfully, Stella Downes helped me get the scorecard back on track.”
Samuel: “Mistakes definitely happen, Lindsey! What people don’t realise is that it doesn’t matter what actually happens on the field; it only matters what the two scorers agree on. If nobody knows what happened, a round of rock, paper, scissors often sorts out what goes into the book!”
Inspiring the Next Generation
DP: “For anyone sitting on the fence about giving scoring a go, what is your top advice?”
Samuel: “Make contact and come sit with me. I will let you drive the live score iPad while I gossip and sample Trish’s charcuterie board!”
Tony: “We have 16 teams and 250 games this year, so we absolutely need more scorers. Come chat with us—just not during an over, as Lindsey knows too well!”
Lindsey: “Exactly, Tony! Just take the plunge and do it. Every time you do it, you’ll get more efficient.”