When you watch live television like the Indian Premier League, the show feels as if it is done to a script but there is much more going on off screen that meets the eye as GetWestLondon found out when invited for a behind-the-scenes look in Sky Studios in Isleworth.

The team come up with a plan ahead of time and write the script for presenter Matt Floyd as the Sunrisers Hyderabad took on the Royal Challengers Bangalore, containing Ravi Bopara but not Middlesex's Eoin Morgan.

He discusses with the analysts, on the day it was Dominic Cork and Dirk Nannes, what they want to bring up on air and then those in the gallery will find suitable footage to demonstrate what they are talking about.

But, when dealing with live and outside broadcasts, there is also a sense of make it up as you go along.

Mark Butcher is in India providing updates from around the country and the teams involved, and the signal to connect him with the studio was temperamental to say the least.

With around 30 seconds to go before his segment, which had already been put back due to this problem, it was unclear whether it would be used, given the poor connection, with producer Robin Reeve taking a successful gamble on the line holding.

Floyd has the hardest job, with those in the gallery in his earpiece keeping him informed of developments and urging him to speed things along when they want to cut to an advert break and the producers were looking to trim down the length of the commercials, which they were able to do.

The analysts have to know everything that is going on ahead of time.

Cork, in particular, is meticulous in his planning, starting the night before, and has a folder with all the details of each game, the key players and he also looks at videos from past games.

He said: “I played cricket when I was 16 so I've been around cricket for nearly 30 years. I've done this, the outside broadcast and Sky Sports News.

“I love the IPL, it's a great game and you've got to make sure you do your homework on past games, averages, squads and coaching. To be the best at what you do, you put in the hard yards.

“I make sure that I take every scorecard and know it so when he (Floyd) asks me a question I can go bang.

“I have to know what I'm talking about and what package is coming up. If you don't prepare then you look stupid.”

Nannes' role is slightly different, having recently played for various IPL teams, and he can provide a more up-to-date view of what is going on inside the dressing room.

The Australian has taken a leaf out of the late, great Richie Benaud's book and will look to supplement what has been said on commentary with a point that hasn't been picked up on.

Nannes explained: “It's easier doing this as there is no pressure on you and I've been at the grounds and know all the players and how the tournament works.

“Dominic sees things completely differently from me which we bicker about afterwards. It's easy to watch a Twenty20 game.

“I like to pick up on something that the commentators don't pick up and look to add to it like the reason why something happened or did stuff like that. That's the stuff I try and portray – something unusual that people won't pick up.”

The whole setup is very impressive but while the presenter and pundits receive the praise and criticism there are so many more people involved.

Reeve and director Paul Gardam make the key decisions along with assistant director Pat Marks and technical director Katie Pollard. They are the ones who pressure the presenters when they are live on air when they are on screen and when they are off screen and can breathe again, for example, and make sure they don’t make any mistakes.

They would also be in the ears of cameramen Colin Hazelwood, Cliff Thomas, Des Dubben, letting them know who is shooting, which shows up by displaying a light on their camera giving them two indications as to whether they are being used or not.

When it comes to analysing the game, Sam Hunt is on hand to provide the visual evidence to help Floyd, Nannes and Cork explain what they are talking about; producing the highlights of the game by recording clips and storing them to fit together neatly; essentially it is one high-tech Sky Plus box.

He would work with Sam Mason, who compiles the graphics that are seen on the screen and give the viewer a comprehensive overview of the game. In a world where the eagle eyed will pounce on any slip there is no room for error and a simple typo would be hounded.

Floor manager Tony Guyan is overseeing the set, making sure the background and the presenters are in the right place, while Howard Kilgour is in charge of the sound.

Overall, it is important to realise how many people are needed to produce what appears to be a flawless production.