The year 2021 will see the addition of another major advancement in the game of Cricket. The ever-evolving nature of Cricket has been complemented by technological progress in the recent past and it continues to be this way. So far, Cricket is already much influenced by technological aids. The technologies such as the Snick-o-Meter, the Hotspot, the ultra-edge, the Hawkeye, the Spider Cams, the speed guns, the LED wickets and the stump microphones have become an essential aspect of the game. The latest addition to the list is going to be the Smart Ball in cricket.
What is a Smart Cricket Ball and what is special it does?
The smart ball, appearance-wise would seem like just another Kookaburra cricket ball but would have a brain embedded inside. A microchip will be present in the inner-most layer of the ball. On the outside, the ball will be covered but the layers of leather, like any other cricket ball. The electronic chip inside the ball provides quite useful information as far as the game is concerned.
Once the Smart Ball is bowled by the bowler, it will gather information such as the power with which the bowler bowls, the speed of the ball at the release point, speed of the ball pre-bounce and post-bounce. The information will be transmitted to a connected mobile or PC through a specially designed application. According to some reports, the smart ball will also be able to measure the exact degree of bounce, swing, drift and dip.
All this information would benefit the umpires in order to make crucial decisions that will then be accurate. Not only the umpires, but the coaches might also find the smart ball of great use in order to analyze different bowlers. The smart ball can be a revolutionary change as it can help the players to self-train themselves and record their progress.
SportCor is the firm behind the manufacturing of the Smart Ball. It has collaborated with the leading Cricket ball manufacturer, Kookaburra, to develop the revolutionary product.
Bluetooth range and the Battery of the Smart Ball
When the ball is connected with a smartphone, the range is about 40 meters. For stadium use, where a match is to be broadcasted, the coverage distance increases as a custom-built computer equipped with a sensitive antenna (called the gateway) allow a range of 150 to 200 meters.
The smart ball has a non-rechargeable battery which lasts for over 30 hours of playing time.
The Smart Ball in cricket is set to be used in CPL 2021
The ninth edition of the CPL will be the first time the smart ball will be seen in Professional Cricket. The CPL 2021 is to kick off on August 26 in St Kitts. The T20 bonanza becomes more interesting with the introduction of the smart ball.
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Pete Russell, Hero CPL’s CEO while expressing his excitement said that the technology is just mind-blowing. “We are really excited to see the Kookaburra Smart Ball powered by Sportcor, at the heart of the action at this year’s tournament and we are sure it will give added value to the teams and the fans,” he said.