5 Advanced Technology Used In Cricket Matches
Even though the use of technology has woven itself into our daily lives in some form or another, certain facets of life have been slower to allow technology in their midst. The reasons could be many, ranging from reluctance to change the old ways of doing things to concerns about its fallibility involving crucial decisions. Perhaps the powers that be figured the vital decisions left best to actual humans.
Cricket was a late bloomer in adopting technology in its gameplay. In the current era, cricket has embraced technology in almost all aspects. Now no one can deny its valuable role in aiding umpires to make the final call.
ESPN Cricinfo details some technological influences in various aspects of cricket as we know it today.
Technology In Fantasy Cricket
While cricket in the real world took time to assimilate the use of technology, Fantasy sports and technology were fused at the hip from the beginning, as fantasy sports depend on it to make it work.
Within the arena of fantasy sports, the use of technology is always in a state of flux, with new developments happening in the blink of an eye. All these fascinating new developments appeal to fans and entice them to play the game. Fantasy cricket tips abound for fans new to the game and looking for a helping hand navigating the game’s online version.
We’ll now take a look at its use in fantasy versions of the game.
- Social Media Integration:
Social media integration in fantasy sports platforms aids in bettering their customer service and marketing. Integrating social media with the platform helps users reach out in case they need the support of any kind, thus providing a quick resolution.
Social media also increases publicity for the platform by letting users share their scores and inviting their friends to play; they are spreading information about the app. Thus social media is cost-effective and efficient at increasing brand awareness.
- Artificial Intelligence Offers Personalization:
Artificial intelligence can learn a user’s habits and preferences to share tailor-made content and notifications and even suggest contests to users. Algorithms made with AI can analyze and offer insights into users’ needs. Fantasy sports platforms can leverage the benefits of AI to provide personalized services to gamers.
- Blockchain Tech For Securing Transactions:
Secure transactions are necessary to gain users’ trust, be it for selling merchandise or subscriptions.
Assimilating blockchain tech with fantasy app development boosts processing speeds and secures user data, so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, this technology offers alternate ways rewards and points are awarded in fantasy apps. Incorporating Blockchain tech permits users to transact in cryptocurrency.
Technology In Traditional Cricket
Cricket first flirted with the use of technology when the Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced during the Sri Lanka-India Test series way back in 2008. Should they disagree with the umpire’s official call, the rules allowed each side to use three reviews during every inning.
Since then, cricket has made rapid strides in adopting technology into the game. It hasn’t made the umpire’s role redundant as some may have feared. Instead, it has complemented their role in making tricky decisions during those hard-to-read moments that make or break a game for either side.
Some of the tech adopted in traditional cricket are:
- Snickometer:
The Snickometer is a device attached to the wicket and is designed for detecting sound frequencies which occur when there is contact between the ball and bat or any part of the player’s body.
Simply put, it is a microphone that catches sounds of different frequencies produced when the ball hits the bat or the leg pads. It helps in the decision-making should there be uncertainty in the umpire’s mind regarding any appeals.
- Ultra-Edge:
The ultra-edge is an advanced version of the Snickometer, which is used for detecting if the batter has edged the ball.
This technology uses extremely sensitive mics placed within the stumps and multiple cameras installed on the pitch and around the ground. The stump mic is able to differentiate between sounds made by the bat and pads, which is handy for LBW decisions.
In case there is contact between the bat and the ball, the microphone relays the accompanying sound to the oscilloscope, which displays the sound pattern as waves in a visual format. The visuals make it easier to decide on the appeal for a caught behind.
- Spidercam:
The Spidercam is another remarkable invention and unique addition to the coverage of cricket matches as it provides a novel view of the contest.
The spider cam is suspended from stadium roofs with a tangle of cables, pulleys, and wires, offering a bird’s eye view of the action and up-close coverage of what’s unraveling out in the middle. From being the eye in the sky to plunging straight into the action, the Spidercam is one innovation that provides mesmerizing close-up shots to viewers’ perspectives so far assumed unreachable.
Winding Up:
From the Snickometer to its more advanced version, the Ultra Edge and the crowd favorite, the Spidercam, are some of the technological innovations that help umpires make the right call, and the broadcasters bring the action alive to the audience.
Taking the action off the field and into the virtual space has increased the popularity of cricket immensely. Fantasy gaming of all kinds has benefited from technological advancements, such as cloud services and data analytics. Without it, fantasy gaming may have continued to reside in its nascent stage.
