What is DRS in cricket and how does it work?

 The Science of DRS is explained here. Read this article to know about:

  • What is DRS in Cricket
  • Working of DRS
  • Hawk-Eye technology in DRS
  • How does Hot Spot work in DRS 
  • Ultra Edge Technology in DRS and it's working 
  • Snickometer in DRS
  • Why is DRS technology not used in every match


science of DRS


What is DRS in cricket?

The Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket is a technology-based system that allows players to seek a review of specific judgements made by on-field umpires. The DRS is usually used to review whether a batsman is out (e.g., lbw, caught, stumped, etc.) and if a ball has past the boundary for a four or six.

To assist the third umpire in making a judgement, the system employs a variety of technologies, including Hawk-Eye, Hot Spot, Snickometer, Ultra-Edge, and Real-time Snicko. The use of the DRS is not required in all cricket matches, and its use is agreed by the teams and the governing body prior to the match. The DRS is not utilised in every cricket match; it is mostly used in international matches and selected local matches as well.

How does it work?

The Decision Review System (DRS) allows players to request that certain decisions made by on-field umpires be reviewed. If a player believes the umpire's decision is erroneous, he or she may seek a review. The request must be made within a particular time range, which varies based on the level of cricket.

The request for a review is then sent to the third umpire, who makes a decision using a mix of technology. The most prevalent DRS technology is Hawk-Eye, which employs many cameras to track and forecast the trajectory of the ball. Hot Spot, which uses infrared cameras to detect contact between the ball and the bat or pad, Snickometer, which uses audio technology to detect edge, UltraEdge, which detects the sound of the ball hitting the bat, and Real-time Snicko, which is a combination of UltraEdge and Snickometer, are other technologies that can be used.

The third umpire then reviews the footage and makes a decision, which is communicated to the on-field umpire. If the decision is overturned, the original decision is changed. If the decision is upheld, the original decision stands. Each team is allowed a certain number of reviews per innings, and once they have used all their reviews, they cannot request any more reviews for the rest of the innings.

Hawk-Eye technology in DRS

The Hawk-Eye technology is used to provide a visual picture of the ball's trajectory, including its course, speed, and spin, when a judgement is submitted to the third umpire for review. The system analyses the camera data and generates a 3D depiction of the ball's journey using a complicated algorithm.

The third umpire can then use this information to decide whether the ball would have struck the stumps (in the case of a leg before wicket (LBW) ruling) or if the ball would have hit the bat before being caught (in the case of a caught behind decision).

The Hawk-Eye is extremely accurate and trustworthy, there may occasionally be inaccuracies. Additionally, the technology is not utilised in cases when the on-field umpire's judgement is deemed definitive, such as run-out and stumping.

What type of cameras are used in Hawk-Eye technology?

Hawk-Eye technology tracks the path of the cricket ball using a collection of high-speed cameras. To record the ball from a variety of angles, these cameras are positioned all over the cricket field.

Hawk-Eye technology uses high-speed, high-resolution cameras that were created expressly for sports tracking purposes; they are not regular cameras. They are able to take pictures at extremely fast frame rates (often over 1000 frames per second), which allows them to offer precise and thorough information on the trajectory of the ball.

Each camera in the system, usually six to eight, is positioned at various angles around the cricket field to record the ball. The Hawk-Eye algorithm examines the photos after the video from the cameras is transmitted to a centralised server, where it builds a 3D model of the ball's trajectory.

Hawk-Eye technology exclusively uses cameras, which are not accessible to the general public, for sports broadcasts and DRS in cricket.

What is Hot Spot and how does it work work?

Cricket's Decision Review System (DRS) uses the Hot Spot technology to determine when the ball makes contact with the bat or pad. It takes pictures of the ball and bat/pad using infrared cameras that are positioned all over the cricket field.

Heat is produced when a tiny amount of friction occurs between the ball and the bat or pad. Hot Spot's infrared cameras are able to identify this heat and produce a visual depiction of the area where the ball made contact.

This information can then be used by the third umpire to reach a judgement, such as whether the ball struck the bat before being caught (in the event of a caught behind decision) or if it did not strike the player's glove but rather the bat or pad (in the case of an LBW decision).

It is important to note that Hot Spot technology is not perfect; it can be impacted by the weather and the calibre of the bat or pad, among other things. Additionally, it's not utilised for all judgements; rather, it's mostly utilised for lbw, caught behind, and run out decisions.

For Hot Spot, do they use same cameras that are used for Hawk-eye?

No, Hawk-Eye and Hot Spot employ distinct kinds of cameras.

High-speed, high-resolution cameras that are especially made for sports tracking applications are used by Hawk-Eye. These cameras are positioned all over the cricket field at various angles to capture the ball from a variety of viewpoints. They are also able to take pictures at very high frame rates (typically over 1000 frames per second), which allows them to provide precise and thorough information about the trajectory of the ball.

Hot Spot, on the other hand, takes pictures of the ball and bat/pad using infrared cameras that are positioned all around the cricket field. The heat produced by friction when the ball makes contact with the bat or pad is what these cameras are made to look for.

For example, Hawk-Eye is used to evaluate if the ball would have struck the stumps in the event of a leg before wicket (LBW) judgement, while Hot Spot is used to determine whether the ball hit the bat or not in the case of a caught behind decision. Both technologies are used together in DRS in cricket. Depending on the sort of choice and the technology's accessibility, sometimes just one of them is employed.

Is Ultra-Edge same as Hot spot?

Similar to Hot Spot, UltraEdge is a technology that the cricket Decision Review System (DRS) uses but for a different function.

Hot Spot is used to determine when the ball has made contact with the bat or the pad. It takes pictures of the ball and bat/pad using infrared cameras that are positioned all over the cricket field. Heat is produced when a tiny amount of friction occurs between the ball and the bat or pad. Hot Spot's infrared cameras are able to identify this heat and produce a visual depiction of the area where the ball made contact.

UltraEdge, on the other hand, detects the sound of a ball striking a bat or pad. It employs an auditory sensor known as a Snickometer, which is strategically positioned throughout the cricket field. The Snickometer compares the sound of the ball striking the bat or pad to the sound of the ball moving through the air. When the ball makes contact with the bat or pad, it emits a characteristic sound that may be used to detect whether or not the ball hit the bat.

In DRS in cricket, both Hot Spot and UltraEdge technologies are used to make a decision. For example, Hot Spot is used to determine if the ball hit the bat before being caught (in the case of a caught behind decision), while UltraEdge is used to determine if the ball hit the bat before the stumps (in the case of a leg before wicket (LBW) decision) or if there was an edge before the catch was taken.

What is Snickometer? Is it installed near the wicket or around the boundary?

A Snickometer is a device used in cricket to detect the sound of the ball striking the bat or pad. It is used as part of the Decision Review System (DRS) to assist the third umpire in making judgements, notably in cases of leg before wicket (LBW) and caught behind.

A Snickometer is normally made up of a microphone and an audio processing device that are strategically positioned throughout the cricket field, usually around the wicket. The microphone captures the sound of the ball as it strikes the bat or pad and compares it to the sound of the ball as it travels through the air. When the ball makes contact with the bat or pad, it emits a characteristic sound that may be used to detect whether or not the ball hit the bat.

The Snickometer is linked to the audio processing equipment, which analyses the sound and relays the results to the third umpire. The third umpire can then utilise this information, as well as other camera data, to reach a judgement.

It is worth mentioning that, unlike other technologies such as Hawk-eye, Hot Spot, and UltraEdge, Snickometer is only utilised in high-profile matches and tournaments when DRS is available.

Why is DRS technology not used in every match?

In cricket, the Decision Review System (DRS) may be highly costly to develop and operate.

The technology itself, like as cameras and audio sensors, can be expensive. For example, the Hawk-Eye system, which is one of the most extensively utilised DRS systems, necessitates the placement of many high-speed, high-resolution cameras throughout the cricket pitch. The expense of maintaining and updating technology is also a consideration, as the systems must be calibrated and examined for correctness before each match.

Another expense related with DRS is the manpower needed to operate the system and make judgements. This comprises the third umpire, who is in charge of examining the footage and making the ultimate judgement, as well as the support workers who are in charge of managing the technology and ensuring that it is functioning properly.

Given these expenses, DRS is not employed in all cricket matches, particularly at the lower levels where funds are restricted. However, the expense is generally justified in high-profile matches, tournaments, and international matches by the necessity of precise decision making and the need to reduce errors.

It's worth mentioning that different versions of DRS use different technologies; some are more expensive than others, which affects the overall cost of the DRS system.

 

 

 

 

 

Naeem Hunzai

A science enthusiast.

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