pre match announcements

[jimmy]

Does Tony Choat need to deliver his informative daily address to the public live each day or could it be recorded in order to spare his vocal chords for other messages throughout the day. This could have the added financial bonus of possibly selling the recordings on CD or as a download so that we can listen to Tony at our leisure or through the winter in order to conjure up images of care free summer days, and if we have a warm day and there's no match on then Tony can remind us to stay hydrated and to use whatever protection best suites us from the comfort of our own homes.

[brazilianglen]

Good idea Jimmy. I always arrive after the start of play in order to avoid listening to Tony's lengthy preamble although I understand there are always some real gems hidden in there

[Valentines Park]

By lengthy preamble I take it you mean it lasts longer than Greg Smith at the crease?

[nat]

By lengthy preamble I take it you mean it lasts longer than Greg Smith at the crease?

OK I now declare it is open season on GS.

[Andy]

Certainly - could see the 12 inch remix selling well on ITunes.

[JasonP]

Without the pre match announcement you might not get to know the name of the opposition scorer every match.

[essexfan548]

Isn't this an Essex tradition?

I remember a classic many year back. Pringle got his highest ever score and the announcement came and he was promptly out. Then later Gooch got his and the announcement was 'I'm not going to make an announcement about Gooch getting his highest score'  ... 

[vim]

How many remember Peter Edward's announcement.

I have the latest scores on our 24 inch teletext Radio Rentals colour television set.

[IlfordEagle]

FWIW I think Tony does an excellent job, compare what we get for 1 day games & his measured and assured tones are most welcome. One small point, sometimes we don't get the other scores at Lunch/Tea but that is a minor criticism & I am certainly happy with what he does.

[sufcessex]

FWIW I think Tony does an excellent job, compare what we get for 1 day games & his measured and assured tones are most welcome. One small point, sometimes we don't get the other scores at Lunch/Tea but that is a minor criticism & I am certainly happy with what he does.

agreed i think he does an excellent job and he ensures his announcements dont interfere with the game.

[aztec]

I'm sorry my response to your various points is a month after the original post but I have been concentrating most of my "spare time" efforts on trying to see that you get a reasonably presented new scoreboard - one for Championship Matches and another for 1-day Matches. The IT guys, Grant and James, have been marvellous in getting the boards to where they are and I would like to thank them for their hard work in this project.

To get back to the original point, it has been suggested - seriously - in the past that I pre-record the "lengthy pre-amble" before the start of each day's play but I have resisted on two principal grounds:-

1. I believe that pre-recorded messages sound exactly that - pre-recorded and soulless. By doing them "live" each day I am free to leave out the inappropriate ones on a daily basis and even "ad-lib" a bit if I feel it appropriate.

2. Sometime, somewhere the disk is going to be mislaid and I will have to do it live anyway!

Yes, I am truly sorry that most of you have to listen to the same messages each day but, just think, I have to read them every day!! They are, however, necessary in case there are people in one day who were not in on the previous day.

In any cricket match, I am told, there are 3 teams - the 2 opposing teams on the field and the team of Officials. This Team consists of 2 Umpires and 2 Scorers. The umpires are introduced to spectators when they enter the field of play each day - so why not the Scorers? Most Grounds have the Scorers named over the Tannoy these days.

I am very grateful for the comments made by Ilfordeagle and sufcessex - it is nice to feel appreciated and I thank you.

Sorry about the lack of other scores sometimes Ilfordeagle but 40 minutes for lunch and a "comfort stop" and then 20 minutes for tea, and a "comfort stop", does not leave much time before the game re-starts - especially if I have to deliver a print-out or two to the dressing room!! I do try to do it as often as I can within the time available and will continue to do my best.

[Mick]

I'm sorry my response to your various points is a month after the original post but I have been concentrating most of my "spare time" efforts on trying to see that you get a reasonably presented new scoreboard - one for Championship Matches and another for 1-day Matches. The IT guys, Grant and James, have been marvellous in getting the boards to where they are and I would like to thank them for their hard work in this project.

I'm sorry but, for me, the efforts of those who have produced the scoreboard (and the software behind it) are a long way from marvellous. It took days to get it into the state it should have been delivered in and even now when it is starting to look like a scoreboard (name of current bowler would be a worthwhile addition), it often updates too slowly. Providing something that starts of as garbage and becomes adequate is not cause for celebration.

[Mick]

In any cricket match, I am told, there are 3 teams - the 2 opposing teams on the field and the team of Officials. This Team consists of 2 Umpires and 2 Scorers. The umpires are introduced to spectators when they enter the field of play each day - so why not the Scorers?

 ...... because the umpires and players do things and the scorers merely record the actions of others ?

[aztec]

In any cricket match, I am told, there are 3 teams - the 2 opposing teams on the field and the team of Officials. This Team consists of 2 Umpires and 2 Scorers. The umpires are introduced to spectators when they enter the field of play each day - so why not the Scorers?

 ...... because the umpires and players do things and the scorers merely record the actions of others ?

No - because they give assistance to the on-field Umpires by radio in such matters as number of balls left in the over and during breaks in play when re-calculation of overs left is necessary. In one-day matches the calculations surrounding D/L are very much their province and they form a team with the Umpires to ensure that current regulations are applied fairly during the match. They are regarded by all Counties as being an important part of the running of the match and are deemed Officials by the ECB.
From your use of the word "merely" I assume that you are not a Scorer yourself, Mick.

[IlfordEagle]

Aztec, Thank You for your thorough reply & fair play re what you have to do each day I now appreciate why we don't always get up to date County scores etc, Keep up the good work.