Smart Replay System: IPL 2024 is to start from March 22. The first match of the 17th edition of the league is to be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. A new system will be seen in this season. ‘Smart Replay’ system will be introduced to bring speed and accuracy in decisions in the tournament starting from Friday. of espncricinfo Report According to this, eight high-speed cameras of Hawk-Eye are spread on the ground, and two Hawk-Eye operators will be sitting in the same room in which the TV umpires sit. During this, they will be given the images directly in the form of smart replay system, which they have captured. Under the new arrangement, TV broadcast directors – who until now acted as the liaison between Hawk-Eye operators and the third umpire – will not be involved.
It has been claimed that TV umpires will have the chance to analyze more photos than before thanks to the smart replay system – including split-screen images. Suppose a fielder present on the boundary line takes a catch. In such a situation, with the help of the new system, the umpire will be able to see the fielder’s feet and hands on the split-screen at the very moment the ball is caught, which was not available to the broadcaster. With the new setup, synchronized video of the moment the foot contacts or escapes the boundary rope can be shown on a split screen, with the umpire calling for holding or dropping the ball.
Similarly, in the event of an overthrow that results in a four, a split screen can now show whether the batsman was crossing when the ball was released by the fielder. Now that Hawk-Eye operators have pictures of the exact moment the throw begins and the positions of the batsmen at that very moment, they can provide that information to the TV umpire. Previously, the inability of the broadcaster to combine the two photographs using broadcast cameras and resources was the main reason why the TV umpire did not get such clear views.
There are eight Hawk-Eye cameras in any match, two on the straight boundary on either side of the field and two on either side of the wicket in the direction of square. Till IPL 2023, Hawk-Eye cameras were mainly used for ball tracking and ultra-edge. Therefore, apart from checking LBW and edge, the broadcaster largely used footage from its own cameras for any on-field referrals. This included referrals for stumping, run-out, catch and overthrow.
For example, in case of a stumping referral, under the Smart Review system, the TV umpire can ask the Hawk-Eye operators to show him a split screen. If a gap appears when the ball passes the bat, he will not ask for ultraedge (to see if it was caught behind) and will instead proceed straight to check the side-on replay for stumping. Will increase. If the TV umpire does not see a clear distinction between the bat and the ball, only then will he refer for ultra-edge.
Let us tell you, before this the ECB has previously tested a similar referral system in The Hundred. The BCCI organized a two-day workshop for select umpires on the new system in Mumbai on Sunday and Monday. According to the report, it has been revealed that around 15 umpires, including both Indian and foreign umpires, will be working with the smart replay system during the IPL 2024 starting from March 22.