In early February the Somerset website carried an article about the changes that will be taking place to the scoreboards at the County Ground in Taunton this season.

Chris Bass, who last season operated the electronic scoreboards has contacted the site and provided the following information regarding the changes.

"The installation of electronics in both scoreboards before the start of the 2001 season has been generally considered a success, matched of course by the players' performance on the field! Comments by members are always welcomed and the consensus has been to further improve the information coming from what has become known as the No.2 Board above the Executive Business Club.

Traditionally and by virtue of where they sit, a sizeable proportion of spectators prefer the No.2 Board for information in preference to the Main Board at the Priory Bridge side of the ground. With this in mind, the following changes will greet spectators from the start of the 2002 season:

1. The Moving Message Board will be re-located to above the No.2 Scoreboard. This facility will continue to be used to give the crowd virtually any information.
2. The No.2 Board will also carry the following additional items on a newly constructed adjoining panel: Overs Left and Runs to Win. During Limited Overs matches, the number of overs bowled by any respective bowlers will also be displayed, together with the relevant Duckworth/Lewis revised targets whenever applicable
3. Those viewing the Main Board will also see enlarged digits for total and wickets.
4. Spectators will enjoy the additional facility of lights on both scoreboards indicating which of the two batsmen is on strike at every stage of the game.

As part of the new technology in 2001, the main board has the wiring capability to display the individual batsmens' names, but it was considered unnecessary to make this upgrade at this stage with the advent of players'names being shown on the players' backs during all matches in the forthcoming season.

The neccesary work to upgrade the scoreboards will be carried out during the week beginning March 18th. All the new facilities will continue to be operated by Chris Bass from a single control point in the Media Centre."

Thanks Chris for putting us all in the picture regarding the scoreboard. I'm sure that everybody will appreciate the detail you have given in your update.

© SOMERSET