Wanted: More tech in cricket

MUMBAI, INDIA: India kept their hopes alive in the Test series against Australia by bundling the hosts out by 72 runs and a day to spare.

The Indian cricket team once again showed the world that it’s one team that could stop the winning streak of not-so-formidable Australia.

Today, as R.P. Singh bowled Shaun Tait, India pressed ctrl + alt + del on Australia’s winning streak, that too in Perth, widely known for a wicket that aids the pace bowlers.

Australia were looking for their 17th consecutive Test victory, but a provoked India stood firm to deny them a record win.

There are many who question Australia’s 16th consecutive Test win in Sydney. If only the umpires had relied on technology rather than going by the fielding captain’s decision, many wondered.

In 1992 Sachin Tendulkar earned the unique distinction of becoming the first player to be given out by “Third Umpire.”

Since then, the game never remained the same! In the next one-and-a-half decade, technological expertise has made its advent in the cricketing circles in the form of Snickometer, Hawkeye, Third Umpire, and Stump Vision and many more.

While on one hand, technology is constantly trying its best to uplift the on field decisions made by the umpires, the question really is—shouldn’t it be used more?

“Yes, it (technology) must be used more,” said V Krishnan, director and CTO of StumpVision Private Limited, a company that specializes in offering technological solutions in sports arena.

An interesting observation made was the number of dubious decisions given by umpires have increased manifold even as technology got augmented.

The 1999-2000 series between Australia and India saw Tendulkar being given out in Adelaide test by Daryl Harper to a delivery that had actually hit his shoulder.

The second Test – in Sydney -- between Australia and India in the current series once again raised the use of technology, especially when it is available.

Krishnan pointed out: “There are two elements to be considered—one is the pre-match preparation, which includes performance analysis, improvement in the techniques, strategizing for the game. Second important element is the usage of technology during the game. Here it is left to the individual choice whether the umpire wants to use it or not.”

While the usage of chips inside footballs is still being thought of, Krishnan felt that such a thing is not needed in a game of cricket.

“There is a difference between football which is a fast moving game and the ball moves in different directions and unless it is used, it would be difficult to know whether the ball was in off side etc but in cricket that’s not so, where you don’t have a problem with every ball,” he said.

So, even as technology improved by leaps and bounds, it was still left to the umpires – as one witnessed with shock in Sydney -- to utilize it for the betterment in decision making which would enhance the outcome of the game. Shouldn’t IT be used more in cricket?

Apparently, yes. It is better to use technology rather than letting the fielding captain decide the fate of a batsman. Technology augurs well for the gentleman’s game in the time of ungentlemanly attitudes.

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