Daddles
Encyclopedia
Daddles, also known as Daddles the duck, is the name of an animated duck who was first introduced in 1977, used in the television coverage of cricket
by Channel 9
in Australia.
When a batsman
is dismissed
without scoring, usually referred to as a "duck
", an animation of Daddles, dressed as a batsman, is shown using on-screen graphics, crying, tucking his bat
under his wing and walking across the screen accompanying the coverage of the departing batsman on his way back to the pavilion
. According to Cricinfo
, this adds "to the departing batsman's shame" at being dismissed without troubling the scorers.
organised a break-away professional cricket tournament called World Series Cricket
, despite never having played cricket himself. He ensured that Daddles was one of a number of innovations introduced at the new tournament, along with additional cameras placed around the ground, greater usage of slow-motion replays, day-night matches
, coloured uniforms, white balls
and stump-cam
. There existed a perception that Test cricket needed to "make major changes" to keep the public interested, and that "observing cricket rated about as high as watching paint dry". The graphical innovation, conceived by "television sports coverage guru", David Hill, initially horrified the cricket establishment. It was thought of as "brash" coverage of the game; subsequently, broadcasters such as the United Kingdom's Channel 4
, upon announcing that they would be covering the English cricket team in 1999, stated "there will be no cartoon ducks". Daddles was considered to be a way in which to keep young people interested in the long format
of the game.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
by Channel 9
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
in Australia.
When a batsman
Batting (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, batting is the act or skill of hitting the cricket ball with a cricket bat to score runs or prevent the loss of one's wicket. A player who is currently batting is denoted as a batsman, while the act of hitting the ball is called a shot or stroke...
is dismissed
Dismissal (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a dismissal occurs when the batsman is out . Colloquially, the fielding team is also said to have snared, bagged or captured a wicket. At this point a batsman must discontinue batting and leave the field permanently for the innings...
without scoring, usually referred to as a "duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
", an animation of Daddles, dressed as a batsman, is shown using on-screen graphics, crying, tucking his bat
Cricket bat
A cricket bat is a specialised piece of equipment used by batsmen in the sport of cricket to hit the ball. It is usually made of willow wood. Its use is first mentioned in 1624....
under his wing and walking across the screen accompanying the coverage of the departing batsman on his way back to the pavilion
Cricket pavilion
A cricket pavilion is a pavilion at a cricket ground. It is the main building within which the players usually change in dressing rooms and which is the main location for watching the cricket match for members and others...
. According to Cricinfo
Cricinfo
ESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
, this adds "to the departing batsman's shame" at being dismissed without troubling the scorers.
Origins
In 1977, Australian media tycoon Kerry PackerKerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
organised a break-away professional cricket tournament called World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket was a break away professional cricket competition staged between 1977 and 1979 and organised by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network, Nine Network. The matches ran in opposition to established international cricket...
, despite never having played cricket himself. He ensured that Daddles was one of a number of innovations introduced at the new tournament, along with additional cameras placed around the ground, greater usage of slow-motion replays, day-night matches
Day/Night cricket
Day/night cricket, also known as Floodlit cricket is a term that is used to refer to cricket matches that are played either totally, or more usually partially, under floodlights in the evening...
, coloured uniforms, white balls
Cricket ball
A cricket ball is a hard, solid leather ball used to play cricket. Constructed of cork and leather, a cricket ball is heavily regulated by cricket law at first class level...
and stump-cam
Stump (cricket)
Stump is a term used in the sport of cricket where it has three different meanings:# part of the wicket# a manner of dismissing a batsman# the end of the day's play .-Part of the wicket:...
. There existed a perception that Test cricket needed to "make major changes" to keep the public interested, and that "observing cricket rated about as high as watching paint dry". The graphical innovation, conceived by "television sports coverage guru", David Hill, initially horrified the cricket establishment. It was thought of as "brash" coverage of the game; subsequently, broadcasters such as the United Kingdom's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, upon announcing that they would be covering the English cricket team in 1999, stated "there will be no cartoon ducks". Daddles was considered to be a way in which to keep young people interested in the long format
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
of the game.