Technology in Cricket
(Part-1)
Prof.Shrinivas Patil
1. Third Umpire
Before 1992, all the decisions pertaining to what was happening on the field was decided by the two on-field umpires. The Third Umpire, also known as the TV Umpire came into play in the first Test between India and South Africa in November 1992. The TV Umpire has television replays to make his decision and comes into play when the on-field umpires require his help. Previously, it used to be lights, like the ones in the traffic signals, used to decide the fate of the batsman, with red signaling the end of the batsman's innings or Out, whereas the green light signaling the batsman has survived the appeal or Not Out. Third Umpires since then have been used whenever the on-field umpires have any doubts regarding any appeals. Though one can't term this as a technological advancement, TV Umpires have certainly changed the game.
2. Decision Review System (DRS)
Cricket has joined some other world sports and has included an umpire
referral system in some international matches. Such a system was first trialed
in 2008 (in a Test series between Sri Lanka and India). Unlike in tennis where
the challenge and referral decision is clear cut using hawke-eye technology,
the cricket referral is adjudicated by the third umpire, and is open to further
errors. The actual way it works may change and develop, but when it was first
brought in this is how it worked. Players
are allowed to challenge decisions made by the on-field umpires, and have them
referred to the TV official. For each innings of the Test, each team can
challenge any decisions, though they will be limited to three unsuccessful
challenges per innings. Only the batsman on the receiving end of the umpire’s
original decision or the captain of the fielding side can appeal by making a
“T” sign with both forearms at shoulder height. The third umpire uses the
technology of the hot spot and slow motion replays at different angles to gain
information and make decisions.
Commonly known as Sniko,
the technology is used in televising Cricket to graphically analyses sound and
video and show the noise frequency to find out whether the ball touched the bat
before going to the fielder. Invented by British computer scientist Allan
Plaskett, the Snickometer was introduced in the mid-90's and since then it has
become a key technology to find out if the ball touched the bat or not. The
Snickometer is frequently used by third umpires to take decisions on a complex
catch appeal. The shape of the frequency helps the umpire to find out if the
ball touched the bat on the way through to the wicketkeeper.
If there is a sound of
leather on willow, which is usually a short sharp sound in synchrony with the
ball passing the bat, then the ball has touched the bat. Other sounds such as
the ball hitting the batsman's pads, or the bat hitting the pitch, and so on,
tend to have a fatter shape on the sound waveform. However, this technology is
used when the ground umpires refers to the third umpire.
4. Hot Spot
The Snicko was not
considered as accurate enough; hence the Hot Spot was introduced to Cricket. It
is an infra-red imaging system used to determine where the ball has struck
before going to the fielder. The infra-red image shows a bright spot where
contact friction from the ball has elevated the local temperature. Where
referrals to an off-field third umpire are permitted, the technology is used to
enhance the on-field umpire's decision-making accuracy. Where referrals are not
permitted, the technology is used primarily as an analysis aid for televised coverage.
The technology uses two
cameras positioned on the either end of the ground and measures heat friction
generated by a collision, such as ball on pad, ball on bat, ball on glove or
anywhere else. The technology uses a subtraction technique of monochrome
negative frames into a computer for finding out the ball contact precisely.
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Good information Sir 👍
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