SCG flies balloon for rain solution
THE SCG Trust is keeping a close eye on revolutionary technology being developed at Lord’s that aims to end the scourge of rained-out cricket.
A futuristic proposal involving see-through mesh canopies, hot-air balloons and drones aims to rid cricket of its eternal problem of bad weather affecting big matches.
The London Telegraph has revealed a US-based company is working in partnership with the home of cricket at Lord’s to get the technology up and running by the year 2020.
It is understood the SCG is keeping tabs on the extraordinary developments, after rain has caused disruption to the past two Sydney Tests.
Millions of dollars can be lost at Test matches because of rain. The SCG would never consider putting a permanent roof over the famous ground for historical and logistical reasons, however, it is open to the more temporary measures being worked on at Lord’s.
The technology, currently in its early stages of testing, reportedly involves an enormous and extremely fine and transparent mesh cover being suspended by wires from the light towers. A hot-air balloon would feature in the centre of the cover to lift it up like a tent, with another idea to deploy drones to keep the mesh afloat high above the playing surface.
There are practical issues to work through — such as where does the run-off water go — but the ECB confirmed its interest in the technology.