England's secret practice weapon

[b555]

Poms look to Pro Batter to unravel India's bowling mysteries.

The haze of the unknown is perhaps the greatest weapon a bowler can brandish against a batsman. Tales abound of mystery spinners taking unaccustomed batting line ups to the cleaners; of Saqlain Mushtaq confounding clueless counties with his ÃÃ…oosra? of teams doing their utmost to replicate alien conditions and bowling attacks in preparation for key tours. EnglandÃÔ cricketers, who are in India for a revenge four-Test series, have been honing their skills against the ProBatter system an evolution of the humble bowling machine that promises to dispel at least some of the murkiness that shrouds opposition bowlers.

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The ProBatter merges the standard practice of using a contraption to chuck projectiles at high speed with an immersive cinematic experience. What happens is this: On a big screen facing the batsman is projected footage of a bowler running in to bowl. At the last point of the delivery stride when the bowler has apparently delivered the ball an actual leather sphere emerges from a hole in the screen imitating exactly the same delivery that the action on screen would have represented. What the technology does is merge the images of the bowling action to the actual emission of the ball from the hole. This means that the hole in the wall is analogous to the bowlers hand and can be commanded by the attached computer to synchronise the moving pictures to the type of delivery shot out. Thus, the software can be reengineered to decide whether it is an out-swinger that will emanate from Dale SteynÃÔ hand, or an equally destructive in-dipper. The same principle works for spinners as well the type of delivery can be chosen and appended to suitable footage and such has been the welcome accorded to the new device that Jonny Bairstow recently spent over an hour facing off against Zaheer KhanÃÔ flickering image in the nets. Many advantages The advantages that ProBatter offers are obvious. It is perhaps the only technology that allows batsmen to study a bowlerÃÔ action from front-on, at will. The kind of programming it allows for (the machine can recreate and deliver all four of R. AshwinÃÔ confounding variations) would be the perfect way to demystify the unknown bowler, one whose allegedly terrifying turn or pace and practical anonymity is the biggest deterrent to touring batsmen. Unless one is out in the middle and facing the music, ProBatter would provide the closest simulation of a bowler chugging in to deliver. Bowling machines do not require breaks, but preferring them to real bowlers as a means of regular practice has its own drawbacks. It should be realized that the processes of bowling and batting are a series of interlinked events. The events begin with the delivery stride, involve a fair bit of anticipation on either part a synchronicity of the feet, body and bat swing and culminate with, hopefully, willow meeting leather, a perfect closure to events as if divinely ordained. Nothing like the real thing But itÃÔ not all hunky dory. After a few sessions, batsmen facing ProBatter realise instinctively that the easier approach is to watch the hole (which is stationary) rather than the bowler (who is likely to be all over the place). Since the hole doesnÃÕ move, and since the ball comes unfailingly out of the same infernal spot, over-reliance on the ProBatter or on any bowling device, for that matter may foster premeditation and leaden footedness, key elements of avoidance for batsmen. As much as it is a vital part of pre-tour preparations the ProBatter should not and cannot replace facing a flesh and blood bowler at an old-fashioned nets session.

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[Sachinism]

They've been using this for a few years. Would love to test this out

[King Tendulkar]

They've been using this for a few years. Would love to test this out

Well there record against spin is tragic, so clearly does not work:--D

[Crookbond]

Something similar was tried by Australia against Muralitharan a few years back.

[Sandeep99]

Brilliant technology!

[Clarke]

How come we don't have anything close despite being the richest cricketing nation. No Merlyn, no hawkeye, no 1000 frames per sec camera, no probatter, no hotspot, effin NOTHING!

[Sachin=GOD]

How come we don't have anything close despite being the richest cricketing nation. No Merlyn' date= no hawkeye, no 1000 frames per sec camera, no probatter, no hotspot, effin NOTHING!

having money doesn't mean that they have brains to spend it wisely.

[Old guy]

what is this witchcraft cant bcci do something about this? :hmmm:

[achilles]

BRB. Headed for a Free Practice on International Cricket Captain and Cricket 2007. Gonna be the next Graeme Smith, I say :giggle:

[Clarke]

having money doesn't mean that they have brains to spend it wisely.

I don't expect the BCCI to build a division on innovation/technology in cricket. What about private companies like Probatter ? No one has meaningful tech investments in cricket in the land of Hindustan :ohmy:

[maniac]

I don't expect the BCCI to build a division on innovation/technology in cricket. What about private companies like Probatter ? No one has meaningful investments in cricket in the land of Hindustan :ohmy:

Tenvic pvt.limited :--D

[Clarke]

^ Edit, Tech related. Just sticking to the topic.

[Asim]

I thought it is "kaala pathar"...

[India-KXIP fan]

Worked like a charm against Ajmal :giggle: Like it says, nothing like facing the real bowler in a match situation. Same angle, same release point aswell. What if one bowler is tall and other is midget. Plus they are on synthetic pitch not an SC turf pitch.

[achilles]

The secret practice weapon from a few years back. Dug this up for all of you to read-

Mar 13, 2007 - 1:47PM PT EnglandÃÔ Cricket team practicing with iPods BY Eddie Hargreaves EnglandÃÔ cricket team are using video iPods to better prepare for the World Cup in the Caribbean. The coaching staff have begun loading the players with bowling actions so they can analyse both their own techniques and those of their opposition. England bowler Liam Plunkett has been glued to the tiny iPod screen as he tries to learn some tips ahead of their opening Group C clash with New Zealand on Friday. According to Reuters UK, ÅÕhe dull Caribbean wickets mean EnglandÃÔ usual swing and seam attack must come up with new ways of getting batsmen out, such as bowling slower balls and off-cutters.

Bigger screen but the players still have the same pedestrian technique :phehehe:

[rixxuu]

Worked like a charm against Ajmal :giggle: Like it says, nothing like facing the real bowler in a match situation. Same angle, same release point aswell. What if one bowler is tall and other is midget. Plus they are on synthetic pitch not an SC turf pitch.

good points. I think if they increase the release holes and take into acount the release points of left arm and right arm bowlers that will make the deliveries more unpredictable.

[Executioner]

this was mainly used by batsman of associates countries to have a taste of bowlers theyd hardly faced. can remember irish and canadian team with it

[Sidhoni]

They've been using this for a few years. Would love to test this out

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