Bangalore, Aug 28: The ICC has entered the second phase of an
agreement with a consortium of high profile Australian cricket, sports
science and sports engineering institutions to develop a wearable technology to assess the legality of bowling actions in match and training conditions, an ICC media release said.
ICC
is now working with experts to produce a process capable of measuring
bowlers' actions in a match environment. Known as inertial sensors, they
employ similar technology to that is used in iPads, mobile phones and
car crash impact detection systems.
It is planned the technology will be light, cost effective and wearable
on the bowler's arm and will not hinder performance while still
allowing information about the throw like features of an illegal action
to be assessed in near real time in both match and training
environments.
Bowlers who have been reported by umpires with a
suspicious illegal bowling action are currently required to attend an
ICC approved biomechanics laboratory to assess the amount of elbow
extension in their bowling action.
The research team comprises sport scientists and engineers from Griffith University's Centre for Wireless Monitoring
and Applications in Brisbane (Engineers Dr. Daniel James and Dr. Andrew
Wixted), the Australian Institute of Sport's Biomechanics department in
Canberra (Cricket Biomechanist Wayne Spratford) and Cricket
Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.
The project is being managed on behalf of the ICC by Praxis Sport Science
Pty Ltd, an Australian-based sports science consultancy company headed
up by Dr Marc Portus. Dr. Portus was involved with the original research
behind the 15 degree tolerance threshold for illegal actions when he
worked as a Biomechanist for the Australian Institute of Sport and
Cricket Australia.
The second phase of the three-phase project
will conclude in late 2013 and is concerned with the technology's
measurement methods and precision against current laboratory protocols.
In 2014 Phase 3 will focus on making the technology more comfortable for
players as well as maximising wireless data transmission and battery
life.
ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, said: "The ICC is keen to see this
technology implemented in elite cricket and believe it will be a
significant stride forward in detecting illegal bowling actions in match
conditions.
"We would also like to see the technology used in training environments as a tool to help bowlers correct their flawed bowling action.
"We
are encouraged by the progress made so far by the Australian research
team and also acknowledge the MCC, who have made a significant financial
contribution to the project."