March 2021 update
Things have continued to move on in the electronic scoring world. In particular, they are all free to download and use.
The first version of Play-Cricket (sponsored by ECB) was launched in a rush in 2017 and was pretty useless, but it was then completely rebuilt by a distinguished scorer and has now become easily the market leader and is almost universally used by clubs and leagues in the UK. We now strongly recommend the use of the ECB’s Play-Cricket Pro. It may take a little time to set up and learn to use, but it is well worth it.
There is nothing to stop you using any of the other systems, all of which have their merits, but this one does everything the others do (including operating a scoreboard) as well as linking automatically into the ECB’s play-cricket website which has become a national repository of scores and other information.
What an electronic scoring system will do.
Depending on your software (see above and below), the machine will produce all averages, wagon wheels, manhattan charts etc etc with no further input and operate an electronic scoreboard. It will, at the end of a match, send an e-mail to this website in the correct format for weekly publication of results with two clicks*. It will send a live feed to your school’s website. It will also send a live feed to the ECB’s play-cricket website. (*This is still being negotiated with Play-Cricket Pro. I’ll let you know when it is confirmed. In the meantime just send me the simple score as per the guidelines).
Other systems
1) Total Cricket Scorer: this used to be the Rolls-Royce of the genre and was expensive. It is now free but has really been superseded by Play-Cricket Pro.
2) CricHQ: based in New Zealand and now amalgamated with TCS, Produces all sorts of stats etc. which are useful for coaches.
3) nxcricket. in recent years, the scorers’ favourite scoring system. It also produces a wealth of stats and charts automatically.
How to send results to Schools Cricket Online using Total Cricket Scorer
Set up the e-mail address: Tools / Settings / Short report settings. Enter [email protected] and click OK (you need do this only once). It should be set to 100+ runs or 5+ wickets; if not, make sure it is. Do NOT click the result box.
At the end of the match, click on Match / Reports / Email short report.
As long as you have an email client set up on your computer (Outlook or whatever) the e-mail will appear ready to go. Click send. Process complete.
How to send results to Schools Cricket Online using CricHQ
Set up a Schools Cricket Online contact. Enter [email protected] (you need do this only once)
At the end of the match, click on Match / Share (top right) / Email media scorecard.
As long as you have an email client set up on your computer (Outlook or whatever) the e-mail will appear ready to go except for the Addressee.
Typing ‘schools’ in the ‘To’ field will offer the email address for schoolscricketonline. Select it. Click send. Process complete.
How to send results to Schools Cricket Online using nxCricket
Set up a Schools Cricket Online contact. Enter [email protected] (you need do this only once)
At the end of the match, click on the email icon at the bottom of the screen (in match listing).
Select a match, then select Results.
You will be given an option to send the email to all players. Select “none”.
As long as you have an email client set up on your computer (Outlook or whatever) the e-mail will appear ready to go except for the Addressee. Typing ‘schools’ in the ‘To’ field will offer the email address for schoolscricketonline. Select it. Click send. Process complete.