Subject: Science & Technology

The Decision Review System (DRS) has revolutionized cricket by introducing technology-aided decision-making, enhancing fairness and accuracy in the sport.

Components of DRS

1. Ball Tracking Technology

• Uses Hawk-Eye system which employs multiple high-speed cameras to track ball trajectory.
• Provides three crucial pieces of information for LBW decisions:
  • Point of pitching
  • Point of impact
  • Predicted path of the ball.

2. Ultra-Edge/Snickometer

• Combines audio and visual feeds to detect edges.
• Uses sensitive microphones near the stumps to capture sound.
• Syncs with high-speed cameras for precise edge detection.

3. Hot Spot Technology

• Uses infrared imaging to detect contact between ball and bat.
• Shows white spots where friction occurs due to ball impact.

4. Review Process

• Teams get limited reviews per innings (2 reviews in Tests).
• Decision must be challenged within 15 seconds of original decision.
• Third umpire analyzes available technology before making final call.

Silicon Tape Impact on DRS

1. Interference with Hot Spot

• Silicon tape can mask thermal signatures on bat edges.
• Creates false negatives by absorbing impact heat.
• Reduces system reliability for edge detection.

2. Impact on Ultra-Edge

• Silicon material can dampen sound vibrations.
• May reduce the amplitude of edge detection signals.
• Creates uncertainty in snick detection.

3. Countermeasures

• ICC regulations now restrict tape thickness and materials.
• Multiple technology cross-verification required.
• Regular equipment checks before matches.

The evolution of cricket technology through DRS has significantly reduced human error in decision-making, though challenges like silicon tape interference highlight the need for continuous system refinement and stringent equipment regulations. The success of DRS has inspired other sports like tennis (Hawk-Eye) and football (VAR) to adopt similar review systems.