Oxfordshire scorer Rod Clarke is set for the greatest honour in his profession after being chosen to officiate at England's Test match against Pakistan at Lord's from July 13-17.
The 63-year-old retired British Rail worker, who lives at Bicester, was selected to score for Pakistan at the First Test after being recommended by Lord's scoreboard operator Andy Scarlet, who lives at Thame.
Clarke, known as Nobby in cricketing circles, was originally asked to take up the pen for an England one-day international against Pakistan, but then got a call asking him to do the Test match.
"I was over the moon," he said. "It is the pinnacle for an amateur scorer. It is a wonderful feeling and I am looking forward to it."
Clarke, who in the past has scored for West Indies A when they played Combined Universities in The Parks, believes it could prove easier to score at a Test match than at a local game.
"In a local match there are 18 overs an hour, but you are lucky to get 13 overs an hour at a Test match," added Clarke, who has scored for Bicester & North Oxford in the past, but will be with Banbury this season.
"You also have televisions, a PA scorer and someone doing the scoreboard and someone identifying every single player.
"As far as I am concerned it has got to be a lot easier than doing a local match.
"There is a lot of responsibility, but it is no different to an ordinary match.
"I am quite proud to have got the opportunity to do it, so hopefully everything will work out on the day."
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