Know what it the hot spot technology in cricket and its relation to the military
While cricket and military technology may seem worlds apart, both fields surprisingly share some common aspects, particularly the Hot-Spot system and the Hawk-Eye system, find out more below.
Cricket has always taken use of the latest technology to improve the way players and fans engage with the sport.
What is Hot-Spot in cricket, how is it related to military technology, its cost, meaning and why is it not used by the BCCI
Technology has come a long way in improving cricket, whether it is for analysing the best outcomes or keeping track of scores.
The Hot Spot system
The Hot Spot system started out as a tool to help commentators on television as an umpiring tool like the slow-motion replay and the stump microphone. Cricket first used the system on Channel Nine during the Ashes back in 2006-07. Hot Spot features the use of infrared camera technology, which helps determine exactly which part of the batsman’s body or bat made contact with the ball.
To make use of this technology, officials place two powerful thermal-imaging cameras around the field, notably behind the bowler’s arm at each end. These cameras then help to identify and calculate the amount of heat that the impact of the ball generates against another object. A computer then creates a negative image to show the point of contact as a red friction “hot spot”.
Thanks to Anil Kumble I just learnt that Hotspot can never be available in India because it is a military technology. Wow
— Ebuka (@iamsportsgeek) November 3, 2024
Interestingly, military scientists originally developed this technology for combat. They used thermal imaging technology to detect and track tanks, fighter jet aircraft, and other warships. This kind of tracking came in helpful during the dark or across smoke-covered battle grounds.
The hotspot technology was developed by a French scientist named Nicholas Bion for military purposes and later this technology was then adapted and implemented in cricket by Warren Brenan owner of BBG sports Australia to know the exact point of contact of the ball to decide whether the batter is out or not.
The 2013 Ashes stirred controversy regarding the technology with the inventor of the tool, Warren Brennan being concerned about the possible usage of coatings on bats which would be detrimental to the efficiency of the Hot Spot. With the technology costing approximately INR 566,400 per day of a Test match, the cost is said to have played another factor in doing away with its use.
For a day of cricket match the two camera setup costs around 6,000 Australian dollars and a four-camera setup costs around 10,000 Australian dollars. For a full test series, the approximate cost comes to around 2,50,000 Australian dollars which is claimed to be a major factor in the BCCI not using it.
Post the India vs New Zeland 3rd 2024 test match, one Twitter/X user claimed former India captain Anil Kumble explained why hotspot is not being used in the Test series with the reason being down to the technology being used by the military as well.
ICC Council Chief Executive Dave Richardson had back in 2015 claimed that are reportedly not enough of the cameras needed to use the Hotspot technology during the world cup that year. He also claimed that Hotspot is brilliant when it comes to ball touching glove, but claimed that the faint edges on the bat sometimes it doesn’t pick up and that can create confusion and said that Real Time Snicko proved a really effective tool in its place.
Why is Hotspot not used commonly in DRS?
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Hawk-Eye system
The Hawk-Eye system is another popularly used system where officials recreate a bowled ball’s possible trajectory. This helps in making lbw (leg before wicket) decisions more accurately. Interestingly, this technology has its origin to research in missile guidance systems. Officials place up to six JAI monochrome cameras (usually placed at long-on, long-off, third man, fine leg, and two square of the wicket). These cameras operate at 120 frames per second (regular television cameras operate at 25).
Three of these cameras capture the path of the ball from each end, while a central computer collects all the pictures from each of those cameras. The cameras capture the exact trajectory, flight, speed, and movement of the ball as soon as it leaves the bowler’s hand till it bounces on the pitch. The camera then tracks it from the instant the ball bounces off the pitch to the moment it makes contact with either the batsman’s pad or his bat.
Using all this information, the computer predicts the path of the delivery. Despite its uses, it has also been the subject of critique in the past. While the company Hawk-Eye technology advertised its margins of error at an ‘average’ of 3.6 millimetres, there are several occasions when the margin of error has come out greater.
Interestingly, Dr Paul Hawkins the man who invented Hawk-Eye, is a former Buckinghamshire cricketer. He currently works at Roke Manor Research near Southampton, UK, and has a PhD in artificial intelligence. The same Hawk-Eye technology was used in military technology for top secret missile guidance and tracking systems. Doctors have also sued the same system in brain surgery.
Why Hotspot is not used in India?
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