If you are one of the millions of cricket fans who would like to follow the game closely and be alerted everytime a wicket falls, here's a great new CricInfo application which can help you do so.

Wicket Alert is a fun new feature brought to you by CricInfo.

When either side loses a wicket, a disappointed batsman will miraculously appear and walk across your screen. What's more, when a player is dismissed for 0, a duck will waddle across your PC all the way back to the pavilion.

A small Wicket Alert window will appear.

Minimise this window - do not close it. You may close any other windows you are working in, including other internet browser windows.

You need to leave the Wicket Alert window active (minimised) throughout the day's play, or for the whole time you want to enjoy the service.

When a wicket falls, the man (or the duck) will walk dejectedly across your screen. You do not need to be surfing CricInfo for this to happen.

Click on the "Scorecard" link on the moving Wicket Alert window to go straight back to the live scorecard on CricInfo to see what has happened.

If you close the Wicket Alert window at any time, you can relaunch the service by going back to the main scorecard.

WICKET ALERT HINTS AND TIPS

For Wicket Alert to function, you need to have your internet connection open, be using a browser that supports java, and have the Wicket Alert window active.

Wicket Alert will work best if you are using a workplace network, but will work equally well if you are online whether or not you are using CricInfo.

If you are disconnected at any time, and your Wicket Alert window remains open, you do not need to reload the application when you reconnect.

If the Wicket Alert window disappears, go back to the scorecard to reload the application.