Have you ever noticed that when Dhoni knocks the bails off the stumps, they light up in red?
The LED wickets, or Zing wicket system, have a tiny computer inside the bail. It lights up super quickly, in just 1/1000th of a second, when the bail comes off the stumps.
Before this fancy Zing system, umpires had trouble deciding if someone was out or not. But now, the bright lights on the bails help umpires make better calls, both on the field and watching from afar.
Don’t you think these flashing lights changed the way we analyse cricket?
Like the LED wickets, there are some technologies from the recent time that changed the cricket world for good.
They are:
1. Ultra-Edge
If you are a fan, you must have seen matches where you noticed a wavy line on the screen when the third umpire checks if the batsman hit the ball with their bat. That’s the ultra-edge technology working.
When the ball touches the bat, a microphone in the stump records the sound. This sound is sent to a machine called an oscilloscope that turns the sound’s frequency into waves.
When the bat hits the ball, it makes a quick burst of high-frequency sound. The third umpire uses ultra-edge technology to compare this wavy pattern with the patterns of other recorded sounds.
So, that wavy line you see on the screen helps the umpire figure out if the ball really hit the bat or not. It’s all thanks to the ultra-edge technology.
2. PitchVision
Not all professional cricket players get facilities and pro help to catch their mistakes. And, not all coaches have a bunch of experts to boost players’ performance.
Enter PitchVision—a smart solution to help teams worldwide train better.
Here’s how it works: PitchVision uses two camera sets, one at each end of the crease to follow the batsman and bowler. It sends live info to a laptop or phone so players can tweak and get better at their hitting or bowling.
Apart from that, PitchVision has special pitches with sensors. They can analyse deliveries and give tips to make players even better.
3. Hawk Eye
Back in 2001, Hawk-eye came into cricket, and it’s been a game-changer ever since.
Dr. Paul Hawkins, a former cricket player from Buckinghamshire, came up with this genius idea. Then, in 2008, the ICC said, “Yeah, let’s use Hawk-eye in the Decision Review System!”
This technology is like a great gift with two sides. First, it helps fans see if the umpire got it right. Second, it lets players question the umpire’s call if they think it’s wrong.
Hawk-eye isn’t just one thing, it’s a whole bunch of cool stuff. It shows where bowlers throw the ball, where batters score runs, and even how fast a ball goes. The six cameras it uses are like super eyes that can measure a bowler’s speed better.
4. Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports have gotten super popular recently, with millions of folks joining in. This new way of playing with sports has totally changed how people enjoy games. It’s not just about watching anymore. With options like Betway Satta, now people are really getting into the action!
It is like a game you play on the internet. You make your own team using real players from real games. The players earn points for you based on how they do in the actual matches.
Fantasy sports have also made the sports scene in India even cooler. Fans can hang out together, play different sports, and have fun competing. Playing fantasy sports in real-time adds a bunch of excitement and makes watching sports even more fun and exciting.
Conclusion
The cricket world has seen many technological advancements in recent years, all of which have helped to improve the game. LED wickets, ultra-edge, PitchVision, Hawk-eye, and fantasy sports are just a few examples of how technology has changed the way we enjoy cricket.
These technologies have made the game fairer, more accurate, and more exciting for fans and players alike.