A New Chapter for Cricket Technology: New Zealand-Made 'Sonic' Joins the DRS
Umpires are about to get more advanced technological help to determine whether the ball has touched the bat. The New Zealand-made 'Sonic' technology has been added to the Decision Review System (DRS) for the first time, starting with the ongoing T20 series between India and New Zealand.
For now, approval has been given to use the technology only in this series on New Zealand soil. The first test will therefore be limited in scope, across the matches of this one series.
Its use in future series, however, will depend on recognition and approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The experience of this series will form the basis for the next decision.
With this bat-and-ball contact detection technology added, Virtual Eye will provide the full technical service for the DRS in this series. The entire responsibility for decision support on the field now rests with the company.
Virtual Eye has held ICC accreditation for ball-tracking technology since 2008. Alongside helping on-field umpires make decisions, it will also improve the viewing experience for spectators, it has been said.
The 'Sonic' technology uses an advanced audio analysis method. By analysing sound, it will try to capture fine moments such as the ball brushing the bat with greater accuracy.
When there is doubt over whether the ball hit the bat, the technology will help the third umpire reach a decision. Its real test will come in the most complicated moments of a review.
It could play an important role especially in close and complex decisions. In decisions where a single run or a single wicket can turn a match, the value of extra accuracy is greatest.
New Zealand Cricket said the approval was given after long testing, effectiveness checks and independent evaluation in discussion with the ICC. 'Sonic' is coming to the field not suddenly, but at the end of a long process.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also supported the whole process, it was said. With the touring team's board backing it, there was no room for objection to the technology's use.
Virtual Eye chief executive Ben Taylor said their team had worked for a long time to build and improve the technology. Meeting the standards required at the highest level of international sport while ensuring accuracy and consistency was their main goal.
If the use of 'Sonic' in this series succeeds, it could open the way for wider use of sound-analysis technology in the DRS. It could be the next big step in the history of decision technology in cricket.
