Live Scoring - Verdict

[Andre]

Hi all,

As you can see, today is our first day of live scoring.

What is your verdict on it? Any improvements you think we can make?

Cheers,

Andre.

[Rik]

Very good commentry but a few things:

1. The page refreshes every 60 seconds like Cricinfo and just like Cricinfo it shoves you back to the end of the commentry when you are trying to read the previous overs.

2. When a batsman is out it simply says "OUT", why not say how? Eg. "Regulation Edge" or "Wow what a catch by *****"?

Other than that pretty good

[yaju]

Thanks for your comments, Rik .

[luckyeddie]

I'll dispute that a bit, Rik.

I cannot find a dismissal where there isn't a description - either at the time or at the end of the over. I may be wrong, in which case sorry.

As someone who did a stint of the ball-by-ball today, I'll tell you it's not easy. You've got a lot to update - scores, bowling analyses, a ball-by-ball commentary - in real time - and remember this is our first attempt.

Examples in the commentary :

2nd ball - Sweep shot, caught by keeper Sangakarra off de Silva, off the glove, well-made 22. Good bowling change

Wicket: Ponting, caught by Jayasuriya at mid-off, through the shot too early. Ponting out to Vaas for 2.

Wicket: Hayden caught by Tillekaratne at short mid wicket, thick inside edge, good catch. Sluggish 20, second wicket to Vaas

Examples at the end of the over :


6th Ball - OUT
Wicket: Inside edge onto stumps

Wicket: Outside edge to Sangakkara
1st Ball - OUT


That's the first 5 wickets to fall. All the others, I think were during my stint. If any of those haven't got a full description, I personally apologise, but as I said, it ain't easy.

[Bazza]

I liked it Andre and I think it went well.

In future is it possible to provide slightly more information in the ball by ball bit? Don't know how pressured it is time wise.

Also will the become used more in future? I assume this is a trial which if successful will continue?

[Rik]

There were a few in the 1st innings, just "OUT"s, and don't worry it's constructive critisism so that you get the best result. Just trying to help you get the best

[luckyeddie]

Cricinfo do a ball-by-ball, but they have a guy whose responsibility is just that - the individual ball-by-ball descriptions. Someone else does the scoring, another fetches the beer and pies, the other essentials which go towards producing a top-notch sporting service.

What we attempted yesterday was very ambitious - one person doing the lot at any a time, the scoring, bowling analyses, descriptions - and (if I say so myself) I think we did a pretty reasonable job for a first go.

We are looking at modifications to the template we are using, but don't feel that there's sufficient time available to test any channges until after the World Cup.

Please bear with us on this - we are aiming to improve the service in future. In the meantime, settle back and enjoy our coverage of the second semi-final and final if you cannot get to a television carrying the game.

[Neil Pickup]

Does whoever voted "Poor" fancy explaining themselves?

I voted "Good" - as we've said there are bits that need ironing out before it reaches its full potential.

[luckyeddie]

Originally posted by Rik
There were a few in the 1st innings, just "OUT"s, and don't worry it's constructive critisism so that you get the best result. Just trying to help you get the best

Point taken and noted - thanks, Rik.

Regarding the 'poor' rating from one subscriber - If you have serious reservations, please let us know. Just email James off-list, let us know what you think the major problems are and we will attempt to rectify them forthwith. If it's just 'mischief-making', you are more than welcome to try it yourself.

[marc71178]

Actually Rik, when I reviewed the scoring, I couldn't find any dismissal without a description.

[Rik]

Originally posted by marc71178
Actually Rik, when I reviewed the scoring, I couldn't find any dismissal without a description.

Well I did, maybe they were corrected? Or maybe it was just because I was taking a quick glance at the screen before I left? Anyway, doesn't matter now

[luckyeddie]

Originally posted by Rik
Well I did, maybe they were corrected? Or maybe it was just because I was taking a quick glance at the screen before I left? Anyway, doesn't matter now

I did copy and paste the entire commentary (for future reference) - I have subsequently examined it closely - and there were none. (I know I said 'there might be' in previous correspondence on the subject, but dammit I was just being nice and conciliatory).

There were three occasions when the BALL commentary just said 'out' but on each occasion a full description was given in the fall of wicket detail - which gets posted at exactly the same time as the 6 'ball' descriptions but precede them in the displayed thread.

Anyway, neither here nor there. We will try to give as full a description of the fall of wickets as possible.

[Anil]

I just had a peek at your live scoring, Eddie. Considering you are doing it alone, tremendous job, man! Must be quite a strain, concentrating on every single ball and then updating the page with intelligent comments every 60 seconds or every over as the case may be.

[Rik]

Originally posted by anilramavarma
I just had a peek at your live scoring, Eddie. Considering you are doing it alone, tremendous job, man! Must be quite a strain, concentrating on every single ball and then updating the page with intelligent comments every 60 seconds or every over as the case may be.

Eddie? Intelligent? What are you on?

[Anil]

Originally posted by Rik
Eddie? Intelligent? What are you on?

Let's see you do it then, Rik.:P I can just see it, "And Ganguly completes another miserable hundred against the minnows, Kenya which just confirms his poor form....."