In contrast, scoring in the modern game has become a specialism, particularly for international and national cricket competitions. In early times runs scored were sometimes simply recorded by carving notches on a stick – this root of the use of the slang term 'notches' for 'runs'. Sometimes details of occurrences between deliveries, or incidental details like the weather, are recorded. It is often possible to tell from a modern scorecard the time at which everything occurred, who bowled each delivery, which batsman faced it, whether the batsman left the ball or played and missed, or which direction the batsman hit the ball and whether runs were scored. Scorers also sometimes produce their own scoring sheets to suit their techniques, and some use coloured pens to highlight events such as wickets, or differentiate the actions of different batsmen or bowlers. More sophisticated score books allow for the recording of more detail, and other statistics such as the number of balls faced by each batsman. Simple score books allow the recording of each batsman's runs, their scores and mode of dismissal, the bowlers' analyses, the team score and the score at the fall of each wicket. While it is possible to keep score using a pencil and plain paper, scorers often use pre-printed scoring books, and these are commercially available in many different styles. So that the umpire knows that they have seen each signal, the scorers are required to immediately acknowledge it. This is the job of the umpires on the field of play, who signal to the scorers in cases of ambiguity such as when runs are to be given as extras rather than credited to the batsmen, or when the batsman is to be awarded a boundary 4 or 6.

The scorers have no say in whether runs are scored, wickets taken or overs bowled. In professional games, in compliance with Law 3 of the Laws of Cricket, two scorers are appointed, most often one provided by each team. In cricket, a scorer is someone appointed to record all runs scored, all wickets taken and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled.

Cricket score sheet 16 overs