Bournemouth scorer Alan Mills will make his full debut for England in the Second Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl, starting tomorrow.
It will be the first time the 63-year old retired bank official has scored an England Test match, although he’s had plenty of ‘warm up’ experience having been in charge of the scorebook for 12 previous ODIs against Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies starting in 2015.
A thoroughly experienced, meticulous and popular member of the South Coast Panel of Officials, Mr Mills has been scoring Southern Premier League cricket since 1994, when he became New Milton’s official scorer.
Six years later he moved to Bournemouth and has scored at Chapel Gate for the past 20 years. He has also scored regularly for Hampshire seconds in recent seasons.
He is the third local scorer to be ‘picked’ by England recently – Ventnor’s Fiona Newnham having officiated at Lord’s for the South Africa Test two summers ago and Dorset’s Christine Drew for this season’s first Ageas Bowl Test against the West Indies.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park commented: “Selection to score for England is generally seen as the ultimate accolade for a recreational scorer and given in recognition of years of dedicated service to the game. In Alan’s case it is richly rewarded and well earned.”
Mr Mills will arrive in the scorebox in the Shane Warne Stand at the Bowl with a clean bill of health having undergone numerous Covid tests – admitting that having a swab placed down his throat was not one of his most enjoyable experiences !
It will be the first time the 63-year old retired bank official has scored an England Test match, although he’s had plenty of ‘warm up’ experience having been in charge of the scorebook for 12 previous ODIs against Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies starting in 2015.
A thoroughly experienced, meticulous and popular member of the South Coast Panel of Officials, Mr Mills has been scoring Southern Premier League cricket since 1994, when he became New Milton’s official scorer.
Six years later he moved to Bournemouth and has scored at Chapel Gate for the past 20 years. He has also scored regularly for Hampshire seconds in recent seasons.
He is the third local scorer to be ‘picked’ by England recently – Ventnor’s Fiona Newnham having officiated at Lord’s for the South Africa Test two summers ago and Dorset’s Christine Drew for this season’s first Ageas Bowl Test against the West Indies.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park commented: “Selection to score for England is generally seen as the ultimate accolade for a recreational scorer and given in recognition of years of dedicated service to the game. In Alan’s case it is richly rewarded and well earned.”
Mr Mills will arrive in the scorebox in the Shane Warne Stand at the Bowl with a clean bill of health having undergone numerous Covid tests – admitting that having a swab placed down his throat was not one of his most enjoyable experiences !
