Hawk-eye Develops New Bat Sensor

Paul Hawkins, the man who discovered ball tracking system Hawk-Eye, has a developed a new technology product involving bat sensors to aid cricket umpires to detect the slightest contact with the ball.

The bat sensor, roughly the size of a coin, attaches to the bat and connects to a smartphone attached to the umpire’s jacket to film each ball to provide replays and show where the ball pitched and its trajectory in leg behind wicket decisions.

The sensors cost £25 and will first be tested in local club matches in England and its success will then be determined for its use at higher levels.

It works along similar lines of Snicko technology, the sensor works on detecting vibrations in the bat, and when linked with the smartphone, works in tandem with a replay of the dismissal.

Talking to media, Hawkins described how he got this idea to use sensors. It was after he saw a batsman edge the ball but still stand on his crease, unwilling to walk away. “Batsmen have always not walked, but what really got me was that after the inevitable bout of sledging from the fielders, the batsman said, ‘I know I nicked it and you know I did, but so what, it wasn’t given’.”

Image: ©Getty Images