Australia develop the virtual batting studio
We all made fun of Merlin, the spin bowling machine designed to inoculate English batsmen against Warnie's leggies (and we saw how well that turned out). Now the worm has turned. There was always the question of what direction Australia's coaching staff would take now that super-nerd John Buchanan has retired. The verdict is in with the news that Australia are developing a virtual batting studio - Australia are once again raising the bar on bringing nerdiness into modern cricket:
Cameras will be set up to capture as nearly as possible a batsman's-eye view of the opposition bowlers, and relay the feed to a studio near the Australian dressing room. Players padded up and waiting to bat will be able to rehearse their innings using images gathered from the middle, and projected life-size back into the pavilion.This is just one of many egghead projects going on at Cricket Australia. We've already heard of GPS satellite tracking of players, which wasn't just a way for Simone to keep tabs on Shane but had actual practical benefits. There was the superbat in development in England. But this is the first mention I've heard of "special goggles to help pinpoint how top batsmen use cues from the bowler's arm to assess line and length before the ball is delivered". Where does it all end?
If the system works as hoped, it will mean that a player like Mike Hussey can go out to face Muttiah Muralitharan having already got his eye in against him in real time, with the ability to replay deliveries he found difficult. He could, for instance, use the cameras to polish his technique against Murali's deadly "doosra", the apparent off-spinner that turns the other way.
Call me a technophobe (strange stance for a science obsessed nerd who makes a living building websites) but all this technology doesn't sit well for me. It seems to me the coaches and staff are over-analysing and over-complicating what is in essence a simple game. Remember a simple squash ball won a World Cup last year!
| Posted by JC on Fri 3 Aug |  14 comments |
Well...it does seem a bit of a good idea...I think. I mean, it would be cool to be batting against top-class bowlers (according to me, anyway) and the case that you won't get hurt is really good as well. So yeah, if this virtual thing makes our Aussie batsman bat even better (which I find impossible since they're already thrashing the opposition) then this thing is a pretty good idea.
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-04 11:32:50
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-04 11:32:50
Talking abt technology ..recent win of Indian team again proves another point that I have vehemently argued,excess coaching and overkill of coaching staff , to train people who have experience in excess of playing 2000 international fixtures between them. Hope the other boards pick-up the cue and stop wasting monies on bells and whistles go forward, Cheers,
Posted by Mahesh on 2007-08-06 04:57:47
Posted by Mahesh on 2007-08-06 04:57:47
Hey this is nothing. England have taken mental disintegration to new levels. Heard about jelly beans. I thought you will blog about it.
Posted by Guru on 2007-08-08 21:36:02
Posted by Guru on 2007-08-08 21:36:02
Hey JC did you see punter on the footy show the other night?
He had to face a few footy players who were running at him from the darkness backstage. He got bowled out twice and he was jumping around as though he was facing Brett Lee!
I felt sorry for him!
He's still the best since Bradman imo.
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-12 17:13:38
He had to face a few footy players who were running at him from the darkness backstage. He got bowled out twice and he was jumping around as though he was facing Brett Lee!
I felt sorry for him!
He's still the best since Bradman imo.
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-12 17:13:38
Yeah Chris, I saw that. I found it quite SHOCKING, to be honest. SERIOUSLY MAN!! Punter is the current best batsman in the world and he couldn't even hit a 6 off an AFL footaballers! Absolutely SHOCKING!! Lol
P.S
No Offense Punter, if you read this.
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-12 19:52:34
P.S
No Offense Punter, if you read this.
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-12 19:52:34
Yeah but as I said, they were running at him from the darkness and he had television lights shining on him. Not even Babe Ruth could hit the ball under those circumstances :-)
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-12 23:52:54
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-12 23:52:54
Yeah...well...I dunno. Probably you're right Chris. I just wish that they did it in a bright area so that Punter could ACTUALLY see the ball then he would probably hit 'em for 6.
(And could probably score a century)
LOL
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-13 17:16:10
(And could probably score a century)
LOL
Posted by Aussie on 2007-08-13 17:16:10
No, I didn't see Punter on the footy show but I avoid that show like the plague. I love my footy but that show is bad, bad television. In the pecking order of quality television, you have reality TV down towards the bottom, the footy show below it.
Posted by JC on 2007-08-18 07:31:47
Posted by JC on 2007-08-18 07:31:47
Lighten up JC.
I dont think anyone watches The Footy Show for intellectual stimulation.
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-23 15:10:32
I dont think anyone watches The Footy Show for intellectual stimulation.
Posted by Chris on 2007-08-23 15:10:32
JC nice read it was. good to know cricket is taken so seriously down under. here is US the game hasn't gotten off the ground yet. By the way if you wana stop by my blog and comment on some of the stuff I write it would be a great encouragement. www.cricspeak.blogspot.com
Posted by Arpit Desai on 2007-08-31 00:56:18
Posted by Arpit Desai on 2007-08-31 00:56:18
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