The Champions Trophy 2017 will see a couple of new technologies at work as Intel, the technology giant has designed a bat sensor which will measure batting techniques of players.
The sensors will be attached on top of the bat handle and inside the grip and will be used to generate metrics related to the bat lift, speed and follow through after each stroke.
This technology is expected to help coaches in evaluating the performance and technique of players in a huge way.
As of now only three English batsmen Jason Roy, Ben Stokes and Alex Hales – will be playing with the sensors installed in their bats.
Former England skipper and commentator Nasser Hussain has backed the use of the sensors.
‘As a coaching tool, it’s vital. Something like this can show you the exact angle of your bat.
‘Take Jason Roy, struggling a little bit at the moment. Say this technology had been in place for two or three years, he could have a net at The Oval, play normally, and then take the data from two years ago and say, ‘Is everything I’m doing with my bat exactly the same it was?’ If you know it was, you know that’s not the issue.’
The upcoming ‘mini World Cup’ will also see drones flying around the venues equipped with HD and infrared cameras to capture live footages. These features add another angle to the entire viewing experience as well as from the analytical point of view.
It is also being reported that the venues will have virtual reality experience zones where the fans can enjoy the games through VR and face virtual bowlers.
Cricket has been quite open to technology in the recent decade. The first major use of technology happened in 1992 when the ‘Third Umpire’ was born in order to help the on-field umpires with consultation related to run-outs, stumpings and tricky catch appeals.
Cricket was touchy of allowing any other technology to interfere in the game before the Decision Review System (DRS) came into existence. The explosion of limited overs cricket later paved the way for Hawk-Eye, UltraEdge, Snickometer, Hot Spot, SpiderCam, Stump Camera, Ball Spin RPM/ Rev Counter, PitchVision, LED Bails. All these tech advancements have enhanced the game of cricket.