Cricket is and always has been a game of fine margins. These margins have now come under sharper scrutiny with the advent of technology like Hawk-Eye and DRS (Decision Review System), tools designed to infuse much-needed fairness and precision into the game but that have, unfortunately, also resulted in new problems and controversies. High-stakes tournaments like the IPL and PSL make it all the more poignant when a single decision can chime the death knell for any team.
Role of Hawk-Eye and DRS in Modern Cricket
Hawk-Eye is a ball-tracking device. This displays the virtual trajectory of the cricket ball as it makes its way through the air. DRS satellite technology is now associated with the major cricket event. The device covers all aspects of LBW adjudications and near catches. In this segment, multiple high-speed cameras are strategically located throughout the stadium and track the ball from release until the moment of impact. All data collected in this manner are then utilized to reconstruct a 3D visual of the whole path of the ball: thus guiding the decision-making process of the third umpire.
DRS incorporates much more than Hawk-Eye. Similarly, it constitutes other devices like UltraEdge and Hot Spot. The UltraEdge tells the faintest edge with sound waves. Then, Hot Spot indicates the heat signatures of contacting the ball. Each team receives a certain number of reviews only. So everything becomes so much more intense. It’s the ultimate goal-not just to reduce the amount of mistakes that happen on the playfield but also to have the systems within the system work perfectly.
Controversies in the PSL: The Rossouw Incident
The massive uproar that created a huge stir was in the 2024 PSL when Quetta Gladiators played against Islamabad United. Rilee Rossouw was batting for Quetta when he tried to sweep a delivery and was given LBW by the umpire. Rossouw immediately asked for a review that showed the ball would not have hit the stumps. The decision was overturned, but the drama was not over. It was later revealed that the wrong ball’s data was used.
Hawk-Eye admitted it was a human error as the system had pulled up data from a previous delivery that had missed the stumps, not the one under review. The mistake meant that Rossouw stayed at the crease and went on to score a match-winning knock. Islamabad’s captain, Shadab Khan, was furious, saying errors like this can’t be allowed in professional cricket. Fans on social media have also raised their protests. Many have demanded more checks and safeguards.
The Lessons from IPL: Accuracy Above All
Indeed, DRS has not excluded the Indian Premier League from controversy, and 2019 had its share, courtesy of a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. The last over of the match was marred by a no-ball that went unnoticed by the on-field umpire, a nip in fate that dangled Bangalore on the balance of narrow defeat. The errors that weren’t sanctioned by DRS made the point that technology doesn’t cover a crucial aspect in the game.
This incident brought into question the efficiencies of the contemporary systems with regard to umpiring. Technology can only go thus far. All such cases reflect the utmost necessity of inaccuracy and that a wrong decision may hold huge consequences even if it be a trifle. It shows the might of technology but is not infallible. They also show how such systems need constant improvement and their continuous monitoring. Leagues like IPL and PSL should ensure that these tools work independently for each decision taken. If not, the very integrity of the game is at stake.
The Human Element in Technological Systems
In spite of its boons, technology doesn’t assure the prevention of human errors. An adequate system depends on human operators for data to be tidy and neat. On this, it is where the errors come up. A smallest mistake in taking the definite delivery caused the whole problem in the PSL incident. The error resulted in different data being shown that didn’t really tally with what had been happening on the ground, making a difference in its impact on the game.
Hence, caution is still required even when using high-end technological devices. A strict protocol for training has to be set for all the operators to make sure such mistakes do not happen again. This technique is necessary for important matches of PSL.
The Way Forward: Trust in Technology
For technology to work, it must be reliable and transparent. It must not only include a proper training venture for the operators, but also clear guidelines must be set up to deal with the errors. Open communication is a must. It is important to have the public and the teams informed regarding the functionalities and operations of these technologies.
