Sight Screen

In cricket, sight screen is used to provide a clear sight to the batsman and the bowler during their respective deliveries. The equipment also successfully blocks any distractions caused by the spectators. It acts as a medium to create contrast between the ball and the spectators or other distractions. The screens are placed on both the ends of the cricket ground, a short distance behind the boundary rope. During a limited over cricket series (ODIs and T20s), the white cricket ball is used with a black screen, whereas in test cricket white screens are used in contrast to the red ball. Different types of sight screens are available depending on the manufacturing materials. Some of the examples include timber sight screen, polyethylene sight screen, UPVC sight screen, Twenty20 UPVC sight screen and mesh fabric sight screen.

Types of Sight Screen

• Portable sight screen - The screens are ideal to use in small open areas such as municipal parks, out grounds and practice net areas where standard screens can’t be used. It took a few minutes to assemble with minimum efforts.
• Roller mesh sight screen - The screens are suitable to use in windy conditions as it provides maximum air movement through the PVC mesh.
• Polypropylene sight screens - The screens are light weighted and can be transported by a single person, as well as can be dismantled easily for storage.
• Wooden sight screen - The screens are sturdy, durable and are majorly preferred since traditional times.
• Revolving flipper sight screen - The flipper sight screen is the innovative modern apparatus which can be quickly converted from black to white or vice versa. It features various properties such as spring-loaded locking system and pinning to 90 degrees. It consists of both white and black or single coloured acrylic panels. The screens are light, durable and multi-functional.
• Tracked sight screens - The screens can be quickly installed without much labour and hard work with removable slats. It can easily be transported by a single person and requires less space. The screen also doesn’t require a solid ground foundation or concrete footings.

Manufacturing of Cricket Sight Screens

The cricket sight screens have a size of 20x20 feet with 12 slats which aren’t entirely flat. The apparatus is painted white on one side and black on another. The gaps between the slats allow the wind to pass through them and not blow it over. The screens have wheels on the bottom for smooth manoeuvring on the ground and can be stored once they are of no use. It is manufactured from the non-steel element for lighter weight and compact design, making them ideal for transportation and storage.

History and Evolution of Sight Screens

At the 1993 Ashes series at Old Trafford and The Oval, "tri-vision" sight screens were used. The screens had advertising over the slats in between the overs. In the current scenario, advertising is only limited to the sightscreen placed behind the wicket-keeper. Traditionally, the sightscreens were constructed with timber, but now a synthetic material regarded as polypropylene is majorly used.