Brighter days meant Cricket season was fast approaching, I would never have predicted what happened next!
My plan was to visit my local Cricket Club- Windsor, where I could redeem myself from days gone by and volunteer as a scorer.
BCOA’s plans for me were far more exciting, and I am still overwhelmed and amazed that I was awarded an opportunity to score for a team playing in the Thames Valley League – Division 1. As Avril is always receiving requests from from clubs for scorers she contacted me, before my Level 1 course, to see if I was interested in scoring for Eversley Cricket Club 1st XI on the proviso that I passed my Level 1.
I was super happy at that moment.
What–How-When? Surely not-I needed further development? As mentioned on my previous page my Level 1 did not go as planned. so again those thoughts of self-doubt crept in:
Avril soon crushed those negative feelings as she assured me I would be fine, and BCOA would support me every step of the way to complete my Level 1. So she asked me to sit in an important cup game with her.
Wow! This was awesome news for me!
Meeting my mentor Avril at North Maidenhead CC 25 April 2013
Avril was scoring a game between North Maidenhead and Osterley. The umpires were Eddie Lunn and Raj Patel. We were sat under umbrellas in the warm sunshine, since the scorebox’s automatic door was damaged in a storm and could not open. Avril remained calm. She would manually control the scoreboard – surely the responsibility of the scoreboard was with the batting side – my notes told me so?
I soon learned this was never the case in real life scoring!
Avril sat next to me as we both scored the game. I used pencil for fear of making mistakes and she would periodically oversee my score sheet. Avril shared best practices with me and I noticed her great organisational skills and efficiency.
Those sweets (produced from her famous cricket bag), were much needed half way through the innings, as my concentration levels needed a boost.
I was scoring in colour by the next innings and Avril was impressed!
Better practices I will always remember:
- Draw a single line in pencil for every 10 balls faced by the Batsman
- Keep to the same recording sequence: Bowling-Batting-Run Tally-Extras
- Totals for WD and NB in the Bowling analysis can only ever be “1”
I left Maidenhead feeling elated and confident and so immediately phoned the Eversley 1st XI Captain: Phil Wise.
Now, BCOA made me re-sit my Level 1 Assessment so I could take up scoring for Eversley. This time the outcome was positive – at last – thanks to all the help & support they gave me.
This would not be my last encounter with my now friend and mentor Avril!
My first season scoring with Eversley 2013 – Success at last