New tech a sure Smash
A COMPUTER boffin from America has finally unpacked the mysteries of batting that have stayed a tantalising secret in cricket for more than a century.
Speculation over bat speeds and shot power, as well as the eternal search for “the middle” have long fascinated cricket’s players and followers.
In a world first for cricket broadcasting, all will be revealed this summer as Fox Cricket launches its revolutionary “Smash Factor”, which will provide an unprecedented level of batting analysis for viewers in real time, all thanks to a tiny sensor hidden behind the sticker on the back of the players’ bats.
Smash Factor will measure data such as bat speed, launch angle, shot power and timing, while the sensor will pick up vibrations off the bat to determine an accurate reading out of 100 for whether the player has hit the ball out of the “sweet spot”.
Swing radars have been prominent in baseball and golf coverage for some time, but the 360-degree nature of cricket has made the technology impossible to replicate, until now.
Boston-based company Divino, in conjunction with Microsoft and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has solved the issue by creating a sensor that weighs no more than a credit card that can break down and demonstrate every element of a batter’s technique.
SOME brilliant late hitting from Adam Zampa has lifted South Australia to victory over Queensland despite another impressive knock from Marnus Labuschagne at the Gabba.
Labuschagne’s commanding 135 had rescued the hosts from 4-24, with Jimmy Peirson (48) stabilising the innings before some late hitting from Michael Neser and Ben Cutting boosted them to 9-295 from their 50 overs.
In-form quick Wes Agar (5-69) did the damage with the ball and the Redbacks looked on track with Alex Carey (79) cruising alongside Callum Ferguson (91), before Carey was run out and Ferguson departed with plenty of work to do.
Needing 33 from the final 18 balls Zampa stepped up, his 35 from just 15 deliveries featuring some brilliant strokeplay as the Redbacks won with two balls to spare.
The leg-spinner slapped fearsome quick Billy Stanlake for a straight six. He then scooped Neser for six from the first ball of the last over and followed that with two fours.