HEAR THE NICK

This summer’s Ashes series has not been only limited to the rival team’s on-field controversies & fierce rivalries that we have seen over the years, here, the DRS once again made the headlines over its inconsistent performance. Since it was introduced there was only ball-tracking technology available to maximum country’s playing conditions, but during World Cup 2011, the way it created confusion on players’ mind, it’s been a strict no-no for the BCCI. Hot-spot were the best technology available during use of DRS as it is consistent & supported by many legends across the world. But during this Ashes, it came under scanner as well. From the very 1st Test at Trent Bridge it couldn’t withstand the umpires’ decisions. The real function of the hot-spot is to make umpires believe that whether a batsman had nicked a ball or not. But suddenly, the theory seems to have changed during the series. Now, umpires rely on snicko metre along with the white mark off the bat to decide the sound factor. That’s where the confusion lies & that’s where BCCI, who once supported the hot-spot, suddenly is up against its inconsistency.

Logically, when a batsman nicks a ball but the sound is not heard by the umpire then hot-spot confirms it through the white mark off the bat. If white mark means there is a nick, then that must be out, then the use of snicko becomes inconsequential. That’s why it’s most clear cut technology to judge the ball’s action. But, now the creator confessed that hot-spot can’t confirm faint edges and then there come the use of snicko, which confirms the sound off the bat. Then where is the debate? You always can’t rely on hot-spot as it’s not fool-proof, snicko is the anti-dote of that. Yes, ICC must come with more improved hot-spot technology to run the game with fair judgements but you can’t reject the present state of the hot-spot either. BCCI has its valid stands as also us, but if an alternate like snicko is there to make up for the hot-spot errors, then it’s all fine. It’s just that players have to educate themselves about this.