TECHNOLOGY IN SPORTS: CRICKET

 TECHNOLOGY IN SPORTS: CRICKET


So as we are approaching the ICC worldcup which will be hosted by India this year, let us address one of the very common questions that most people get while watching this sport.
How do the umpires use Snicko and Hotspot?


SNICKO:

The Snickometer, more commonly called the Snicko, or as we call it, the Ultra-edge, is used to check whether the ball has edged the bat or glove in some way, during the judgement of dismissals of Leg Before Wicket, or Caught behind. 

The Snickometer was invented by English computer scientist Allan Plaskett in the mid-1990s. The snickometer was introduced by Channel 4 in the UK, who also introduced the Hawk-Eye and the Red Zone, in 1999. 

So how does this work? 


The Snickometer uses a very sensitive mic attached to the stumps which is connected to an oscilloscope that measures the sound waves. The mic captures the sound at the moment when the ball nicks the bat. The sound is amplified and filtered out to certain frequencies using a resonance filter. The sound waves are then relayed to the connected oscilloscope. This then shows the output of the sound waves into the graph that we see on the televised screen. When the ball nicks the bat or any other part of the batsman, it shows a spike on the graph, signalling that there has been contact. 

With the introduction of real-time snickometer, the graph is synced with visuals captured by the cameras and then the TV Umpire can analyse frame by frame to give a very accurate decision (although sometimes there can be a lapse of judgement)


HOTSPOT:

Moving onto the next system that was very commonly used in cricket, the Hotspot.
Hotspot was also used to review dismissals involving the ball nicking the bat. Hot spot technology was originally founded by a French Scientist Nicholas Bion. The technology was actually developed for the military for tracking tanks and jet fighter planes.

Hotspot is not dependent on any sound system to analyse if the ball had come in contact. Instead, it uses infrared imaging systems to check the same. The technology was adapted for television by BBG Sports. The technology was first used during the first Test Match of the 2006-07 Ashes at The Gabba on 23 November 2006.

When the ball hits the bat or the pads, there is a collision where the ball imparts its kinetic energy on the bat or the pads and thus generates heat. The infrared cameras. that are usually located at the straight boundaries or even at the sides, are very sensitive to this sudden change and show a bright white spot at the point of impact. 


While these systems do make it easier when players or umpires have to review a decision, they still have their problems when it comes to accuracy.

The hotspot might not catch on to the faintest of edges which the snicko could detect.
But as the snickometer relies on sound, a slight movement of the feet or any other disturbance can disrupt the graph and thus, it might hinder in making a decision.
In the end, these systems are quite helpful when it comes to reviewing tough decisions, and since their introductions they have made the game less frustrating for players and fans alike, who might not agree when a decision is made.


HAWKEYE:

Hawk-Eye is utilized to follow the ball's path. It is mostly used to make LBW (leg before wicket) rulings, which include tracing the ball's path after hitting the batsman's pads.

Multiple high-speed cameras are positioned all over the cricket field for use by Hawk-Eye.


These cameras record the ball's motion in real time from different perspectives. A computer system processes the recorded video after that to create a 3D model of the ball's trajectory.



In order to determine the trajectory the ball would have taken had it not impacted the batsman's pads, the Hawk-Eye system analyzes the trajectory data. Umpires and TV umpires use this data to decide whether to uphold LBW appeals. By taking into account elements like bounce, spin, and impact point, it aids them in determining whether the ball would have continued to hit the stumps. Hawk-Eye has grown to be a crucial component of cricket matches that are shown on television, giving viewers visual representations of the ball's trajectory and aiding in the explanation of decision-making processes. It improves the comprehension and transparency of umpiring decisions in the game of cricket by adding another layer of analysis.



Credits:    Paarth Agrawal- Tech Tuesday, COEP Blogs


References 

https://cricketmastery.com/hot-spot-technology-in-cricket/

https://www.itsonlycricket.com/hotspot-cricket

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snickometer

https://www.topendsports.com/sport/cricket/equipment-snicko-meter.htm

https://madaboutsports.in/snicko-meter/#2_What_is_Ultra_Edge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Spot_(cricket)


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