Published on 17 Feb 2025
UDRS commonly known as DRS, is a technology-based system in cricket that assists on-field umpires in making accurate decisions. Introduced to reduce human error, DRS allows players to challenge umpiring decisions on the field.
Components of DRS
✔ Hawk-Eye: Tracks the trajectory of the ball and predicts its path, helping in decisions related to LBW (Leg Before Wicket) appeals.
✔ UltraEdge (Snickometer): Uses sound and visuals to detect whether the ball has made contact with the bat, crucial for caught-behind and edge decisions.
✔ Ball-Tracking Technology: Analyses the ball's trajectory after it hits the batsman to determine if it would have hit the stumps, used in LBW decisions.
✔ HotSpot: Detects heat generated by ball impact on the bat or pads using infrared imaging, assisting in decisions for edges and bat-pad catches.
Benefits of DRS
✔ Reduction in Umpiring Errors: DRS has helped in correcting umpiring errors, improving the accuracy of decisions.
● Example: Accuracy increased by 98%, as seen in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
✔ Fair Play: The availability of reviews ensures that critical decisions can be reassessed, promoting fairness in crucial match situations.
● Example: Sachin Tendulkar's overturned LBW decision in the 2011 World Cup.
✔ Increased Player Confidence: Players are more confident in challenging decisions, knowing they have the opportunity for review, enhancing the overall competitive spirit.
✔ Spectator Engagement: DRS adds to the excitement for spectators, who get to see the decision-making process.
Challenges of DRS
✔ Silicone Tape on Bat Edges: Applying silicone tape to the edge of a cricket bat can interfere with the HotSpot technology, which detects heat signatures from ball impact.
✔ Technology Limitations: The accuracy of ball-tracking and UltraEdge can be questioned in certain scenarios, leading to controversial decisions.
✔ Inconsistent Usage: Variations in the application of DRS across different cricket boards and tournaments can lead to inconsistency in decision-making.
✔ Human Factor: Despite technological support, the final decision rests with the third umpire, whose interpretation can still introduce subjectivity.
Reasons Why Silicone Tape on Bat Edges Can Fool DRS
✔ Interference with Infrared Detection: Silicone tape insulates the edge, reducing the heat signature that HotSpot detects, potentially causing missed edge calls.
✔ Absorption of Heat: Silicone material absorbs impact heat, making it difficult for HotSpot technology to register the heat from ball contact.
✔ Reduced Friction: The low friction of silicone can lower the heat generated upon impact, making faint edges harder for HotSpot to detect.
Way Forward
✔ Standardization Across Formats: Ensure uniform application of DRS in all formats and tournaments, similar to its use in ICC events, to maintain consistency in decision-making.
✔ Improvement in Technology: Invest in enhancing DRS components like Hawk-Eye and UltraEdge, as done in the Indian Premier League (IPL), to reduce errors further.
✔ Training for Umpires: Provide regular training for umpires to better understand and utilize DRS technology, as adopted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
✔ Cost Reduction Strategies: Explore ways to reduce the costs of implementing DRS, such as shared technology agreements, to make it more accessible globally.
PYQs
1. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in the 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (2021)
2. What do you understand about the Umpire Decision Review System in Cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicone tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system? (2013)
3. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered by science-based technologies? (2020)
Sci & Tech
UDRS
Silicone Tape
Hawk-Eye
Snickometer
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Science and Technology
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