Behind the scenes at Sky Sports Cricket: A team of 130, 17 cameras and a drone operated from a synagogue roof

September 9, 2026 - 02:44

The Athletic got a rare, close-up look at the organized madness that fuels Sky Sports Cricket's coverage on day two of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's. What unfolds is a carefully choreographed operation involving a crew of 130 people, 17 cameras, and one particularly unusual piece of equipment: a drone operated from the roof of a synagogue.

The commentary box itself is a hive of controlled noise. Former players turned pundits shuffle between screens, earpieces, and hastily scribbled notes, all while trying to sound calm for the millions watching at home. But the real work happens behind them. Producers shout instructions, statisticians feed data into laptops, and a team of engineers monitors the video feed for any glitch. The sheer scale is staggering, especially when you consider that most viewers only see the two or three voices on screen.

The drone, a recent addition to the toolkit, offers a sweeping aerial view that was once impossible to capture. Piloting it from a nearby synagogue roof requires a steady hand and a good relationship with the local community, a detail that highlights the lengths the broadcaster goes to for a fresh angle. Every ball, every fielder's movement, and every change in the light is tracked, ensuring that the broadcast feels both immediate and polished. It is a far cry from the simple days of a few cameras and a single microphone. The result is a seamless product that hides the frantic energy required to make it all look so effortless.