Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

Hayden, playing for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Daredevils, unveiled the bat in that innings.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'Hayden unveils the Mongoose bat in style' (2010) · recall

The MCC said the carbon-graphite strip broke Law 6, under which the blade must be wood; Kookaburra withdrew such bats from first-class cricket by October 2006.

Source: ABC News, 'Graphite bats to be withdrawn by October' (2006); cricket.com.au, 'Kit Week: carbon-graphite super bats' · recall

Umpires found the black paint discoloured the ball; the bat later came back with a clear protective sticker.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com) · recall

Removing wood from the back moved weight to the edges; Brian Lara made his 375 in 1994 with a Scoop.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com) · recall

The shoulderless Excalibur, partly developed by the player John Guy, ran straight from the handle into the blade.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com) · recall

Hutton broke his arm in a wartime accident and it healed two inches shorter; he turned to a smaller Harrow blade, a size made for older boys.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com) · recall

The Laws cap a bat's edges at 40 mm, so the Blue Whale cannot be used in a match.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com); MCC Laws of Cricket, Law 5 and Appendix B · recall

1970, 1983, 2006 and 2010.

Source: Wisden, 'The ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com); ABC News, 'Graphite bats to be withdrawn by October' (2006); · recall

The MCC ruled in February 2006 and graphite-backed bats were out of first-class cricket by October.

Source: ABC News, 'Graphite bats to be withdrawn by October' (2006); cricket.com.au, 'Kit Week: carbon-graphite super bats' · recall

The Mongoose's handle is about 43% longer and its blade 33% shorter than a normal bat's, putting more power into a smaller hitting area.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'Hayden unveils the Mongoose bat in style' (2010) · recall

Early balls were plainer; the six-seamed ball dates from about 1780.

Source: ESPNcricinfo history of cricket timeline (espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/22771053) · recall

Pads date from about 1836 and wicket-keeping gloves from about 1850.

Source: ESPNcricinfo history of cricket timeline (espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/22771053) · recall

Hawkins built the system at Roke Manor Research; it began as a television graphic and later became part of the review system.

Source: The Cricket Monthly, 'The use of Hawk-Eye' (thecricketmonthly.com) · recall

Channel 4 first used it in its coverage of England against Pakistan at Lord's in 2001.

Source: The Cricket Monthly, 'The use of Hawk-Eye' (thecricketmonthly.com) · recall

Hot Spot adapted military infra-red imaging; it was first used in cricket on the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia.

Source: Army Technology, 'SELEX Galileo signs exclusive contract with cricket Hot Spot provider BBG Sports'; CricTracker, Hot Spot explained · recall

Three cameras covered the second Ashes Test at Lord's, but the signal reached only about 20 miles from Alexandra Palace.

Source: Jack Williams, 'Broadcasting and cricket in England' (University of Warwick); cricket.com, 'Live telecast of Test cricket: a brief history' · recall

Few homes had a set, and the signal from Alexandra Palace carried only about 20 miles.

Source: Jack Williams, 'Broadcasting and cricket in England' (University of Warwick); cricket.com, 'Live telecast of Test cricket: a brief history' · recall

About 1780, about 1836, about 1850 and 1938.

Source: ESPNcricinfo history of cricket timeline (espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/22771053); Jack Williams, 'Broadcasting and cricket in England' (Univer · recall

Hawk-Eye in 2001, Hot Spot on the 2006-07 Ashes, and the light-up Zing wickets in the Big Bash a few years later.

Source: The Cricket Monthly, 'The use of Hawk-Eye' (thecricketmonthl; Army Technology, 'SELEX Galileo signs exclusive contract wit; Red Bull, 'How the Zing cricket wicket was made' (redbull.co · recall

The South Australian had the idea watching his daughter's flashing LED toy; Zing wickets are made in Port Adelaide.

Source: Red Bull, 'How the Zing cricket wicket was made' (redbull.com); AdelaideAZ, Zing International's Port Adelaide plant · recall

It grows fast and straight and gives a light, springy wood.

Source: Forestry England; J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers · recall

The trees like damp ground near rivers in the east of England.

Source: J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers · recall

Kashmir willow suits beginners and tennis-ball cricket.

Source: Gunn & Moore, guide to bat willow · recall

The rubber layers soak up the jar when the ball is struck.

Source: Gunn & Moore, how a bat is made · recall

A light coat keeps the willow from drying out and cracking.

Source: Gray-Nicolls, bat care guide · recall

Growers plant new sets as each tree is felled.

Source: J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers · recall

Gunn played 11 Tests and helped build the business with Thomas James Moore.

Source: Gunn & Moore history; ESPNcricinfo, William Gunn · recall

Bat-makers advise hours of knocking-in before a bat faces a new ball.

Source: Gray-Nicolls, bat care guide · recall

About 2 lb 4 oz, 2 lb 9 oz, 3 lb 2 oz and 7 lb 12 oz.

Source: Gray-Nicolls; ESPNcricinfo · recall

Like tree rings, the grains count the years the tree grew.

Source: Gunn & Moore, guide to bat willow · recall

The company joined two earlier firm names.

Source: Sanspareils Greenlands company history · recall

Sialkot, now in Pakistan, has long been a centre of sports-goods making.

Source: Sanspareils Greenlands company history · recall

Dukes are still hand-stitched in England today.

Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, Dukes history · recall

Cheaper practice balls are often made from two pieces.

Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made · recall

The main seam joins the two halves round the middle.

Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made · recall

The firm is based in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin.

Source: Kookaburra Sport company history · recall

Kent's ball-making tradition goes back to the 1700s.

Source: Alfred Reader & Co history · recall

1760, 1890 and 1931.

Source: Company histories · recall

The core and the cover are made separately and brought together.

Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made · recall

A. G. Thompson started the firm; its balls are now used in most Test countries.

Source: Kookaburra Sport company history · recall

Groundsmen fitted the boots so the hooves would not cut the square.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground · recall

Packer's matches were refused the established Test grounds and played at football stadiums.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, the drop-in pitch · recall

He had been the curator at the Gabba.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, John Maley obituary · recall

The pitches are grown in a nursery outside the stadium.

Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au) · recall

Its old square was dug up during the redevelopment.

Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au) · recall

A fan blows air under it so a few groundstaff can push it into place.

Source: ECB, ground equipment guidance · recall

It had covered the square since the early 1980s.

Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history · recall

1977, 1996, 2013 and 2018.

Source: ESPNcricinfo; ground histories · recall

The pitches are taken out again when football returns.

Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au) · recall

The name joins 'Brum', for Birmingham, and 'umbrella'.

Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history · recall

It followed two seasons of night cricket in World Series Cricket.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Australia v West Indies, Sydney 1979 · recall

Pakistan were playing their home series in the United Arab Emirates.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Dubai 2016 · recall

He made 302 not out.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Dubai 2016 · recall

Alastair Cook made 243 and England won by an innings.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, England v West Indies, Edgbaston 2017 · recall

It was also Bangladesh's first Test with the pink ball.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Bangladesh, Kolkata 2019 · recall

Warwickshire played Somerset in the Sunday League.

Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history · recall

Seven Test nations played the one-day tournament in Australia.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, World Championship of Cricket 1985 · recall

1977-78, 1979, 1997, 2015 and 2019.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

Adelaide 2015, Dubai 2016, Edgbaston 2017 and Kolkata 2019.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, day-night Tests · recall

The masts lower themselves so they do not tower over the houses of St John's Wood.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), floodlights · recall

Short passages of commentary were broadcast from Leyton.

Source: BBC history of sports broadcasting · recall

The effect made the studio account sound like a live match.

Source: ABC, the synthetic Test broadcasts; National Film and Sound Archive · recall

He called over 200 Tests and was much loved by listeners.

Source: ABC, Alan McGilvray obituary · recall

He served in the Southampton police before joining the BBC.

Source: BBC, John Arlott obituary; Wisden · recall

He handed over simply and walked out of the box to applause.

Source: BBC, John Arlott obituary; Wisden · recall

He has been a voice of Test Match Special ever since.

Source: BBC Sport, Jonathan Agnew · recall

Blofeld commentated on Test Match Special from 1972 to 2017.

Source: BBC Sport, Henry Blofeld · recall

1927, 1934, 1957, 1980 and 1991.

Source: BBC; ABC · recall

The mid-1930s, 1946, 1972 and 1991.

Source: BBC; ABC · recall

Commentators received coded cables after each over and described the play as if they were there.

Source: ABC, the synthetic Test broadcasts · recall

Henry Pryor, a Welsh inventor, developed it over many years.

Source: BBC News, the Merlyn machine · recall

The machine could be set to copy Warne's leg-breaks and flippers.

Source: BBC News, the Merlyn machine · recall

Changing the speed of each wheel makes the ball swing or spin.

Source: BOLA, how the machine works · recall

It was rebuilt in the 1990s and is still used by schools and clubs.

Source: Lord's (lords.org), Indoor School · recall

If Tendulkar was not dismissed, he kept the coin.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Ramakant Achrekar obituary · recall

The town now has the Bradman Museum and the Bradman Oval.

Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au) · recall

The ball comes off the ridges unpredictably, as it does off an edge.

Source: ECB coaching resources · recall

Tendulkar said he kept thirteen of those coins.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Ramakant Achrekar obituary · recall

Bradman said the game sharpened his eye and footwork.

Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au) · recall

He played the game for hours behind the family house.

Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au) · recall

Old prints show batters and fielders in tall hats; caps took over later in the century.

Source: MCC Museum collection · recall

It was an early home-made attempt at a protective helmet.

Source: Middlesex CCC heritage; ESPNcricinfo, Patsy Hendren · recall

The Australian wore it against West Indies at Bridgetown.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, Graham Yallop profile · recall

Joe Root wore 66 and Steve Smith 49 at Edgbaston.

Source: ICC; ESPNcricinfo, 2019 Ashes · recall

Glenn McGrath and his late wife Jane set it up to fund breast-care nurses.

Source: McGrath Foundation, the Pink Test · recall

The maroon cap is a symbol of the regional team.

Source: Cricket West Indies · recall

The cable-knit sweater has bands of colour at the neck and waistband.

Source: MCC Museum collection · recall

The mid-1800s, 1933, 1978 and 2019.

Source: MCC Museum; ESPNcricinfo · recall

Pads before Tests began, a helmet in 1978, neck guards from 2015 and numbers in 2019.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

Its extra peaks and padding covered the temples and ears.

Source: Middlesex CCC heritage · recall

The British computer scientist's idea first reached television in the late 1990s.

Source: ESPNcricinfo, the Snickometer · recall

He used a studio with replays and diagrams to break down the play.

Source: Channel 4 cricket coverage; ESPNcricinfo · recall

It was the start of satellite television's long role in English cricket.

Source: Sky Sports history; ESPNcricinfo · recall

It was also the last home Test shown on free-to-air television for years.

Source: BBC Sport; Channel 4 · recall

Animation Research Ltd also built graphics for sailing and golf.

Source: Animation Research Ltd (arl.co.nz) · recall

The song reached the Australian charts.

Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia · recall

Listeners loved his short, calm phrases.

Source: Channel Nine; ESPNcricinfo, Richie Benaud · recall

1938, 1977, 1990, the late 1990s and 2001.

Source: BBC; Channel 4; Sky · recall

1978, 1999 and 2005.

Source: Channel Nine; Channel 4 · recall

Channel Nine's duck sometimes wiped a tear as it left.

Source: Channel Nine cricket coverage · recall