Cricket is an amazing and most popular sport that has evolved over the years. It is no longer just above the ball, bat, and pitch. In recent years, it has integrated with technology and has seen a significant change, right from smarter umpiring to customised gears for the players, and also excellent ways to train players. It has also improved and enhanced the viewer experience, making it loved by all. So, do you want to know more? In this blog, I have explained to you how technology is changing cricket and improving both the experience of the players and the viewers. So let's explore more about it here through this blog. Read more to know more.
How Technology is Changing Cricket?
Smarter Umpiring
One of the most significant ways in which technology has impacted and improved cricket is by poviding smarter umpiring decisions. Manual umpiring was always subject to debate because they were based on what the umpire saw in real time. But tools like DRS have changed history by providing fair and accurate decisions.
Decision Review System
Decision Review System or DRS allows the players to review the umpire's decision using several sports technological advancements such as Hawk-Eye, UltraEdge, and ball-tracking to make sure that the decision made by the umpire is correct or not. DRS has been the game changer to provide fair and proper play. For example, when the batsman is given out by the umpire for LBW, the ball tracking system helps smartly tackle the problem and shows what has happened, whether the ball is pitched or if it has hit the pads.
Ultra Edge and Snickometer
A snickometer helps detect the tiny edges of the bat when the ball passes.
Earlier, such edges were difficult to notice, but due to the development of technology in sports and especially in cricket, viewing tiny edges of the bat is now possible. The technology provides access to microphones and also visual sound waves that help the umpires catch even the faintest touch, leading to positive and fair outcomes.
Third Umpire and Replays
Actions such as the run outs, stumpings, and boundary calls are now clearer with the help of high definition and also slow motion cameras. Even the third umpire allows the players to derive a near-fine conclusion, which is a more accurate decision in terms of seconds, which reduces the chances of human error.
More Innovative Training Methods With Advanced Technology
Bowling Machines
If you are a batsman, this is actually for you. These machines can help bowl faster, spin, slow, or swing just like the genuine bowlers. The bowling machines allow different types of deliveries again and again, which helps the players to improve their batting skills. Therefore, bowling machines are a great tool of technology that shapes the batting skills of the batter.
Video Analysis Tool
A video analysis tool serves as a mirror to the players, showing them their mistakes, so that they can fix them. By watching the replays of their performance, they get time to understand how to improve it or fix it. The video analysis is indeed a great and helpful tool for both the players and the coaches.
Motion Sensors and Wearables
Another great invention in technology is smart sensors, which allow the coaches to understand the heart rate of the players, their running speed, hand movement, etc, to help the coaches assist with the performance of the players and also avoid several sports injuries, which are caused due to irregular motions and unprofessional training without any guides.
Safer and Upgraded Equipment
Another big thanks to technology in cricket for the smarter gears that tie up the players with extra safety and safeguard them from accidents and injuries.
Smart Helmets
Helmets are no longer as simple as they used to be. They've become smarter and have been upgraded. More innovative helmets not just protect the players from damage, but they also have sensors that allow them to calculate the speed and the force with which the ball hits the player. So once it is clear how hard the ball hit, it becomes easier to provide treatment based on that.
Weightless Bats
Time's gone when we used to rely on English or Kashmiri willow. Today's bats are made up of materials like carbon fibre or advanced wood. These are lighter bats, yet powerful, allowing the players to make a faster swing and hit the ball harder across the boundaries. These are accessible to all players irrespective of their physical attributes.
Better Shoes and Clothing
Shoes and clothing that promote control and balance in the field are what the idol sports gear looks like. With changing technology in cricket, better shoes have come into existence, allowing players with a better grip and clothing that controls sweat, making players comfortable in the field. These clothes have amazing sensors that are stitched into them to measure proper body movement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changes in Technology in Cricket
How Has Technology in Cricket Improved Umpiring?
With the advancement in technology, umpiring has witnessed a vital change. With features like the DRS, Hawk-Eye, and Ultra Edge, the umpiring has become more accurate. These tools help in reducing human errors and ensure fair decisions during the game.
Are Smart Helmets Helpful?
Yes, smart helmets have been helpful with sensors that help measure the hardness of any shot that lands on the player, ensuring a proper and required treatment.
What Are Some Examples of Training Technology in Cricket?
Bowling machines are one of the best examples that bowl just like a human with an applied, fast, swing, or spin bowling type. Also, tools like the motion sensors and wearable trackers help the players to train more effectively and improve their performance in the game faster.
With an integrated technology in the world of cricket, players are becoming smarter, along with their safety. And as cricket keeps evolving, one thing is sure: that the advancements in technology will continue to push the game to more heights, comforting both the players and the fans.
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