World Cup 2019: ECB redesigns the ‘fan’s scorecard’ to accommodate totals of 500 runs

The on-going five-ODI series between England and Pakistan has seen massive scores. 373 runs in the second ODI and 358 in the third has made the life of bowlers from either teams miserable. England has been a batsman’s paradise in limited-overs cricket for the last few years, and though not this time, venue for the fourth ODI between the two teams – Trent Bridge – has seen eight totals in excess of 400 since 2016, with three of those coming in 2019.

The above has prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to redesign the official fans’ scorecards for the World Cup so that totals of up to 500 runs can be accommodated into it. For starters, the scorecard is a printed scorecard which fans can buy after the game by paying a pound or two if they want a souvenir. Originally, the scorecard was designed in a size which could accommodate up to 400 runs, but it is now being remade to accommodate at least 500 runs.

“Scorecards bought by fans at games have a tally of runs that can be ticked off and for the World Cup they were originally designed to go up to 400. But at an operations meeting last week Steve Elworthy, the tournament director, realised they would have to be redesigned with a tally of up to 500,” reported British newspaper Daily Telegraph.

Imad Wasim on Pakistan’s bowling woes

A hot English summer means flat tracks, which further improves the possibility of witnessing games with totals in excess of 450. The England batsmen, as seen in the on-going series, have been in an exceptional form, but their bowlers need to slightly up their game once they arrive in the World Cup. The same fate has been shared by Pakistan, who ‘almost’ chased down the mammoth targets in both the second and third ODI, but their bowlers leaked runs in excess, courtesy the pitch.

“White ball cricket is not a bowler’s game, but credit to the groundsmen and the ECB, the wickets they are preparing are unbelievable … it’s like a batting paradise. You have to find a way to contain and take wickets,” Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

For the first time in 50-overs cricket, and in a tournament as huge as the World Cup, the 500-run mark is likely to be breached. As for the bowlers, all they need to focus on picking wickets while forgetting about the economy rates.

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