‘Technology can spell high gains for cricket’

It was a lec-dem by the guru of tech-cricket on the pros and cons of the use of technology in the game, both in umpiring and coaching. By th...

It was a lec-dem by the guru of tech-cricket on the pros and cons of the use of technology in the game, both in umpiring and coaching. By the end of it, even the staunchest opposers to the Bob Woolmer School of Thought were nodding in agreement.

‘‘If I were an umpire, I would see technology as an aid to my work,’’ Woolmer, former South Africa coach, said, replying to a question on the umpires’ authority being undermined by increasing use of technology. ‘‘The argument that technology would sidestep the umpire is wrong. We are all humans and programmed machines will do the job more accurately. We miss things and there’s nothing wrong in it.’’

Ditto for technology to aid training cricketers. ‘‘Talent is not the last word. Even the best cricketer can improve — and that’s where technology comes in. A bowling action, fielding manoeuvres, shots…everything can be value-added to by technology. Coaches need all the digital help they can get. Especially people like me, who grew up before computers. Sports science is my baby and I am proud of it. I see technology as a great aid to coaching.’’

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However, despite his advocacy of everything technological, Woolmer talks about psychology as a bigger element in improving a player — and cites the example of Sandy Gordon, currently with the Indian team. ‘‘If you remember, Australia were on the verge of being knocked out of the 1999 World Cup that they won eventually. Gordon was with them at the time and played a big role in their turnaround. That’s because, more than technology or anything else, it’s all mental,’’ Woolmer says, tapping his skull.

The television programme Woolmer was in town to promote, the Cricket Skills show, is based on the seven particular skills Woolmer stressed on to improve the quality of the South African team he coached so successfully through the 1990s. ‘‘Direct hits, running between the wickets, throwing to the wicketkeeper, improvised strokes, hits out of the ground, straight hits, bowling at an imaginary target outside the off stump, etc are all things people know about. But unless you focus on these areas, with the help of technology of course, they don’t improve,’’ Woolmer says.

And that’s where, he brings us around, ‘‘technology comes in’’.

	FUTURESPEAK

			• More digital help for umpires because, with everything televised these days, they are coming under greater scrutiny. • As more and more countries play cricket, we currently have 89, a new dimension will emerge in the overall development of cricket Story continues below this ad • Drop-in pitches, where the pitch will be lower than the level of the rest of the ground, seems to be the future. Only one pitch on a ground will be used and that will create a level-playing field • India will, in the next five years, have to come up with replacements for their top four batsmen, who are all around 30. Sehwag and the clutch of youngsters are good, but they have to be moulded.

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