Tech Set Go

Known for its on-and-off-the-field high-voltage drama, the second edition of
the Indian Premier League seems to have soared heights due to its off-field
theatricals rather than on-field excitement even before the tournament has
started.

Among all the hullabaloo, the word cricket seems to have gone into
oblivion. Nonetheless, thanks to the maverick John Buchanan and his
glass-breaking theory of having four captains to lead a team, the print and
electronic media are getting loads of newsprint and sound bytes. Known for the
experimental techniques he has always preached as a coach, the Aussie perhaps
goes overboard sometime. However, it will be foolhardy to discount the role of
new technologies introduced in the last ten years that has given cricket a new
dimension. Neither can one deny the pivotal role of new-age technology that has
helped the likes of Buchanans and Chappell to blow their trumpets, a little
undiplomatically sometimes.

Reaping Benefits

While it needs someone like Shane Warne, who single-handedly make champions
out of underdogs, la the Rajasthan Royals, technology has become that magic
wand that can create diamonds out of stones. Warne has gone on record saying
that cricket is played on the 22 yards and not on laptops. Technology is,
however, an additional edge, a tool to improvise and its up to the stakeholders
of the game to utilize it for maximum benefit. No wonder that Indian cricket has
advanced a lot and is today keen to reap the benefits of modern-day tech tools.
Technology offers a team solutions for coaching, game strategies, performance
analysis, analyzing opposition game tactics, etal.

Deepite Wannes contention that cricket is played over the 22 yards, and not on laptops: Rajasthan Royals is going strong on tech adoption

Taking a cue, IPL is leaving no stone unturned to use technology
whole-heartedly its eight teams. And the teams are for taking full advantage of
online and mobile technologies for the aggressive promotional activities that
they are indulging in. When it comes to the use of cricketing technology, the
franchisees are largely following the guidelines set by the BCCI and IPL. Sports
Mechanics is one of the largest sports technology vendor that the BCCI works
with. Out of the eight IPL franchisees, Sports Mechanics has partnered with six
teams including, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, Hyderabad Deccan
Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as their
official sports technology partner.

Cric-Info

The introduction of Video Analysis solutions in cricket has helped
revolutionize the way it is being played. Developed on multimedia platform,
these applications are irreplaceable in depicting all the actions and creating
various analytical graphs and visual illustrations based on that. Video analysis
of the game or player movement has today evolved as an essential tool for
learning and analyzing mistakes and plan for required corrective measures. Its
an important element in modern-day cricket learning and the combination of data,
video and graphical feedbacks help players to acquire new skills and techniques
creating immense impact on their performance. The integrated use of video
cameras and IT to develop various sports analytical tools and applications has
helped the international cricketing bodies to reform the way cricket coaching
was done before.

IPL Tech

As organizers wanted it to be, IPL is no less than a grand carnival. Add
names like SRK, Preity Zinta, Vijay Mallya, Washington Redskins, and it only
indicates the larger-than-life image of the journey. As SRK puts it in defense
of his revolutionary coach, Twenty20 is a new format and new ideas should be
tried, one has to admit the efforts of the IPL franchisees in implementing
cutting-edge technologies.

Innovations like pitch map help bowlers improve their line and length in a T20 environment	Multiple captains might be Buchanans googly for Ganguly, but he had brought in a number of tech innovations too

Competition is ripe among the teams to device innovative ideas and marketing
techniques to attract their fans and increase team visibility. A lot of focus is
being given to online and mobile activities. However, when it comes to
implementing tech tools in the coaching methodologies, each IPL team is equally
active as nobody wants to lose since the stakes are very high. As Sports
Mechanics takes charge of doing the job for the six IPL teams, it ensures to
work closely with the teams to understand their requirements and provide
customized solutions. We ensure to leverage on the cutting-edge technology. The
applications provided by us help the teams to prepare in a better manner for the
matches, says Subramanian Ramakrishnan, CEO of Sports Mechanics.

Since the IPL teams play in a tight schedule, it is very important for them
to access all relevant data and reports on team and individual player
performance as well as those of the oppositions in real-time. While Multimedia
plays a vital role in developing the applications, WiMax is another technology
that the company uses to support online data accessibility. We also prepare
video capsules of individual player from all teams as well as those of their
opponents that combine shots taken during practice sessions or matches along
with performance analysis or opposition analysis reports and feedbacks. The
players can store these capsules in their laptops, ipods or playstations and
view them anytime they wish to, said Ramakrishnan.

Now thats the power of technology! These solutions have offered the coaches
unlimited scope to experiment and build strategies to improve individual player
performance and team performance, match strategies, fielding strategies as well
as strategies to beat opposition attack.

DeepPoint, a business intelligence tool, is being used to analyze match
performance. It generates a lot of information on team performance and aptly
analyzes the techniques used in the game or during practice sessions. Sometimes
verbal feedback given by a coach to the players creates a communication gap.
Technology has largely helped to bridge this gap which is being filled up by the
video analysis/feedbacks and multimedia illustrations, said Ramakrishnan.

Thanks to technology allowing the dismissal to be replayed ad nauseum from multiple angles, you can hardly watch any more such celebrations live on TV

Sports Mentor is again being used for coaching and performance assessment.
This application creates critical information on players performance. These are
then converted into intelligent information and analytical reports based on
which the coach or the physio can design specific actions, measures or trainings
for the players. It also helps in benchmarking players and use them to play to
their optimum capacity. It allows the coach and the physio to study players
fitness graphs, analyze their case history, injury reports, etc. All this
information is collected and collated on a single online database in the form of
video clips, visual illustrations, analysis, coachs comments; and any member of
the team can access it whenever required. It always helps when one watches his
moves and actions along with verbal explanations as well as visual
illustrations. This method makes a lot of difference, explained Ramakrishnan.
The method helps to maintain an analytical track record with live video footages
of the players performance and actions.

Twenty20 Pro is being used for match or performance analysis including
batting, bowling and fielding. It generates important information about a
players current performance level. It captures videos of a players actions and
movements live and helps to provide immediate feedback.

Although the current edition of IPL lost its desi flavor, we still can feel
the rush of adrenaline in our body while the players sweat it out in the South
African fields to win the coveted trophy. It is again technology that has
revolutionized cricket broadcasting. Watching a cricket match on TV has never
been so viewer friendly. All said and done, we all hope that IPL Season 2
delivers an exciting cricket experience and entertains the viewers with all its
glamor and starry antics... and of course the Cheerleaders!

Piyali Guha

piyalig@cybermedia.co.in