Sight screen

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Sight screen

In cricket, every smallest detail is important, and this is what the game is built on. Literally, everything is taken into account, even in organizing a match. For example, is the ball visible for the batsman? There are many distractions around the batsman, and he should focus on the ball. And not only to successfully repulse him but also so as not to get traumatized. In this article, we will talk about such an important element of the game of cricket as the Sight screen. Many fans underestimate the role of this device, but without it, cricket could not look so impressive.

Sight screen: what it is used for in cricket

Many cricket fans often don’t notice the Sight screen as they watch the game on TV. And this element rarely gets into the frame. Therefore, it is not surprising that viewers may not be aware of the existence of this device. But now we will fill this minor gap in our knowledge of cricket terminology and how a cricket match works.

The Sight screen is a large screen placed on the cricket field just outside both wickets abroad. Their main task is to block distractions (including spectators) from the batsman so that he can see the ball and bowler and take the hit.

This element of cricket is relatively uncomplicated. However, the task of the Sight screen is very important. To feel how necessary the presence of this device on a cricket field is, imagine yourself as a batsman. You are preparing to hit, and in front of you is a bowler, ready to launch the ball at you. However, keep in mind that this ball is solid, and it flies at a speed of approximately 90 miles per hour (or even more). Most likely, you will want to clearly see the launched ball to hit it or, if necessary, dodge if it gets lost and there is a threat of injury. You must admit that it is much more unpleasant not just to miss a match, but the fact that he can get into the head. And exactly the Sight screen can be the deciding factor in allowing you to see the ball! It blocks out distractions, so the ball stands out from the background and is visible to you. Thanks to this, the batsman can quickly make a decision for action.

By the way, baseball also has a similar device, and it is called the Batter’s eye.

Purely for the sake of sports interest, we looked at what price the Sight screens are sold at various sites selling sports equipment. Depending on the material and size, the price of a given cricket element can range from £ 39 to £ 5,500 or even higher. However, if you are planning to equip your cricket field, we recommend looking for discount offers. There are also plenty of them.

Sight screen: where is

It is worth considering the location of the Sight screen on the cricket field because a lot in the batsman’s game depends on it. So, there are two Sight screens in any cricket match, one at each end of the wicket, so that the batsman has an equally good chance of spotting the ball from both ends. This device is often mounted on the ground in amateur cricket, but the screen is large enough to provide good visibility of the bowler’s arm and thus the ball.

There is an important note in the cricket rules:

The Sight screens should, if possible, be located completely outside the playing area, as close to the boundary line as possible.

Things are a little different between professional and amateur cricket. The Sight screen is usually much larger in size, and it is raised to the stands in professional cricket. Why do they do it? Quite simply, for practical reasons. It is easier for people to move around, and in general, embedding the Sight screen in the stadium itself is much more efficient than storing this bulky device elsewhere.

There are times when the area abroad is limited. The Sight screen is positioned within the playing field for several yards or may cover the border to cope with such situations.

There is also an important point in the current rules regarding the placement of the Sight screen: the referee must make sure before the game that there is enough space to move the Sight screen without leaving the playing field. This rule should be followed even when it means that the border will end up being uneven.

Now you know all the information regarding the location of the Sight screen. It will hardly help to make successful bets, but it is very important for a more detailed study of cricket.

Sight screen: color, size, material

The Sight screen has some other features: they relate to the device’s color, size and material from which it is made. All of these are of great importance in cricket. We will tell you more about each of the above parameters.

  • Colour. It is one of the most important components of the Sight screen. It is necessary for the ball to stand out against its background, so special attention is paid to the color scheme. White is the most commonly used color in amateur cricket. The explanation is simple: red balls are usually used in this type of cricket, and the batsman can see them perfectly on a white background. The same goes for long-lasting forms of professional cricket. It means that white Sight screens are also used in test matches, where the ball is also red.

A slightly different situation can be in short forms of cricket (for example – T20 and ODI). White and pink balls are often used in such cricket matches, so at this moment, it is more optimal to use darker versions of the Sight screen, for example, black. The balls of the specified color range are better distinguished against such a background.

  • The size. Interestingly, the cricket rulebook is missing a clause governing the size of the Sight screen. It means that the site workers regulate this moment on their own. However, most of the Sight screens that can be seen on amateur sites are about 4.5 by 4.25 meters in size. These numbers can be much higher in professional cricket. For example, many large stadiums such as the Sydney Cricket Ground have a Sight screen over 200 square meters (approximately 36 by 6 meters).
  • Material. The last point regarding the characteristics of the Sight screen is the material from which the device is made. Many Sight screens are fairly simple sheets of fabric supported by the tension of the ropes and hammered into the ground. It is the cheapest version of the device and is used in small amateur cricket grounds.

Other Sight screens, more expensive and reliable, are made of wood. They are heavy, and this type of device is more durable, and therefore lasts longer. The only thing is that sometimes the paint can peel off, so repairs are periodically necessary for this kind of Sight screen to last even longer.

Sometimes you can find Sight screens made of metal, but more and more manufacturers of this device prefer to use lighter materials such as PVC and polyethylene.

Sometimes large LED screens play the role of a Sight screen in large professional stadiums. Their plus is that they are billboards and broadcast information at the same time when their main function is not required.

By the way, some Sight screens can be equipped with special wheels, which greatly facilitate equipment transportation.

As you can see, things are not so simple. Cricket is a complex game, and even such a seemingly insignificant little thing as the Sight screen plays an important role in organizing the correct process of the game.

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Nisha Bhavani
Author: Nisha Bhavani Position: Cricket Expert

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