Hot Spot unlikely to be used in the World Cup
While the ICC is keen to use the umpire decision review system (NAUs) in next year's World Cup, the tournament is unlikely to see Hot Spot, the technology favored by players for their accuracy. Contrary to reports, a combination of a shortage of cameras, the high cost of acquisition and use of technology and sensitive nature of the equipment, makes it almost impossible for technology to be in place before February.
"For the 2011 World Cup, there is no possibility of Hot Spot is available for all 50 + the first rounds of matches," Warren Brennan, the owner of BBG Sports, the company that supplies the technology, said in an e-mail Cricinfo. "Currently we only have four cameras hot spot, this will limit itself to providing only the Hot Spot quarter-finals onwards.
"This includes two chambers for the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the possibility of four chambers for the final in Mumbai. This is something I discussed with David Richardson of the ICC, but have not had any updates in the past six weeks. "
According to Brennan, having had enough cameras for the World Cup, ordered an additional eight to 10 cameras hot spot should have been included in January or February of this year. The cameras from four to six months to build and only four or five companies in the world who have the know-how to manufacture them.
And every time BBG wants to buy a new one, has to undergo a security check because the cameras are classified as military equipment. These checks can take up to three months to complete. "We have to go through several processes," said Brennan. "Are they good? Can we trust them?" They have sold houses of Al-Qaeda? You can enter a 7-Eleven and buy one. "
Brennan also said he needs help from the International Criminal Court and the tables so that the cost of the system. Hot Spot, which uses infrared imaging technology to determine if the ball had beaten the bat, pad or the batter, now costs $ 6,000 per day for a two-cameras and $ 10,000 per day for a configuration of four cameras.
Under the current system, the broadcaster has to bear the cost of using NAUs but not always able to do so. Pakistan, for example, have opted for the referral system when they played Australia in England because it was unaffordable. "They [the] ICC know that if they want to maintain the system even more, they have to understand the patterns of funding," said Brennan.
The absence of hot spot does not preclude the possibility of NAUs being used in the World Cup. The International Criminal Court the minimum system requirements for reference only include the trackball technology (Hawk-Eye), super slow motion cameras and a clean audio feed from the stump microphone. Hot Spot is "desirable" but not a requirement at this point, according to a spokesman for the ICC.
However, some players have argued for Hot Spot, the latest of Sachin Tendulkar. After completing his fifth Test double hundred in the second test against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar made it clear he prefers NAUs Hot Spot on the base.
"I'm not entirely convinced by the referral system (NAUs)," said Tendulkar. "When I was here last time he was not convinced with many decisions. I do not feel comfortable, was an experiment that I felt. I prefer to go with the hot spot as it establishes contact between the bat and ball. That is the much better system in my opinion. The hot spot is much better. "
Thursday, August 12, 2010
