Multi-day cricket for scorers

What changes

A multi-day match can have up to four innings in total: two per side. Each innings needs its own sheet, and the scorer records the day, the session and the time of each stoppage.

Innings, not overs

Never mix second-innings batting into the first-innings page because there was space at the bottom. A new innings starts a new book, even if the same batters are in.

Follow-ons

If one side's first-innings total leads the other side's by the margin in the playing conditions, the captain may enforce a follow-on, making the trailing side bat again immediately. The Laws set the margin; in Test cricket it is 200 runs. Record the decision, and the time it was made.

Declarations

A captain can declare an innings closed before all out. Write the time and the score at the declaration. Do not invent wickets to make the innings look finished.

The new ball

In Test cricket, the fielding side can take a new ball after a set number of overs. Record the over number when the new ball is taken, because the swing and seam behaviour changes and the captains will ask.

Sessions and stoppages

Record the start and end of each session, the scheduled breaks, and any interruption for light or weather. Those records decide how many overs were lost and whether the match can still produce a result.

Common mistakes

• Continuing the first-innings sheet into the second innings.
• Forgetting to record a declaration with its time.
• Missing a session break, so the over count drifts.

Citations

MCC Laws of Cricket, the sections on follow-on, declarations and the new ball.