# Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

Cricket · Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/cricket/interesting-facts/chapter-5-equipment-technology/)

Bats that broke the mould, the kit that arrived over two centuries, and the inventions that changed how cricket is watched and judged.

## 5.51 Bats That Broke the Mould

Bats that tried something new, and what happened to them: a long handle, a graphite strip, a black blade, a scooped back, no shoulders, and one far too big for a match.

### Test 1: Unusual bats and the rulings on them

- 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))
- 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 (Source: ABC News, 'Graphite bats to be withdrawn by October' (2006); cricket.com.au, 'Kit Week: carbon-graphite super bats')
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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ten bat innovations, from Hutton's Harrow blade to Lillee's Mortal Combat' (wisden.com); ABC News, 'Graphite bats to be withdrawn by October' (2006);)
- 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')
- 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))

## 5.52 Kit and Gadgets

When the ball, the pads and the gloves took their modern form, and the inventions behind ball-tracking, thermal imaging, television coverage and stumps that light up.

### Test 1: From six seams to light-up stumps

- Early balls were plainer; the six-seamed ball dates from about 1780. (Source: ESPNcricinfo history of cricket timeline (espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/22771053))
- Pads date from about 1836 and wicket-keeping gloves from about 1850. (Source: ESPNcricinfo history of cricket timeline (espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/22771053))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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)
- 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')
- 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')
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## 5.53 Willow and the Bat Trade

Where bats come from: the willow, the growers, the handle and the care a new bat needs.

### Test 1: Bats and willow

- It grows fast and straight and gives a light, springy wood. (Source: Forestry England; J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers)
- The trees like damp ground near rivers in the east of England. (Source: J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers)
- Kashmir willow suits beginners and tennis-ball cricket. (Source: Gunn & Moore, guide to bat willow)
- The rubber layers soak up the jar when the ball is struck. (Source: Gunn & Moore, how a bat is made)
- A light coat keeps the willow from drying out and cracking. (Source: Gray-Nicolls, bat care guide)
- Growers plant new sets as each tree is felled. (Source: J. S. Wright & Sons, bat willow growers)
- Gunn played 11 Tests and helped build the business with Thomas James Moore. (Source: Gunn & Moore history; ESPNcricinfo, William Gunn)
- Bat-makers advise hours of knocking-in before a bat faces a new ball. (Source: Gray-Nicolls, bat care guide)
- About 2 lb 4 oz, 2 lb 9 oz, 3 lb 2 oz and 7 lb 12 oz. (Source: Gray-Nicolls; ESPNcricinfo)
- Like tree rings, the grains count the years the tree grew. (Source: Gunn & Moore, guide to bat willow)

## 5.54 Ball Makers

The three great ball-makers and how a match ball is put together.

### Test 1: Dukes, Kookaburra and SG

- The company joined two earlier firm names. (Source: Sanspareils Greenlands company history)
- Sialkot, now in Pakistan, has long been a centre of sports-goods making. (Source: Sanspareils Greenlands company history)
- Dukes are still hand-stitched in England today. (Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, Dukes history)
- Cheaper practice balls are often made from two pieces. (Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made)
- The main seam joins the two halves round the middle. (Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made)
- The firm is based in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin. (Source: Kookaburra Sport company history)
- Kent's ball-making tradition goes back to the 1700s. (Source: Alfred Reader & Co history)
- 1760, 1890 and 1931. (Source: Company histories)
- The core and the cover are made separately and brought together. (Source: British Cricket Balls Ltd, how a ball is made)
- A. G. Thompson started the firm; its balls are now used in most Test countries. (Source: Kookaburra Sport company history)

## 5.55 Covers and Rollers

How grounds are kept playable: horses in boots, hover covers, a giant umbrella and pitches grown elsewhere.

### Test 1: Ground equipment

- Groundsmen fitted the boots so the hooves would not cut the square. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), history of the ground)
- Packer's matches were refused the established Test grounds and played at football stadiums. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, the drop-in pitch)
- He had been the curator at the Gabba. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, John Maley obituary)
- The pitches are grown in a nursery outside the stadium. (Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au))
- Its old square was dug up during the redevelopment. (Source: Adelaide Oval (adelaideoval.com.au))
- A fan blows air under it so a few groundstaff can push it into place. (Source: ECB, ground equipment guidance)
- It had covered the square since the early 1980s. (Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history)
- 1977, 1996, 2013 and 2018. (Source: ESPNcricinfo; ground histories)
- The pitches are taken out again when football returns. (Source: Melbourne Cricket Club (mcc.org.au))
- The name joins 'Brum', for Birmingham, and 'umbrella'. (Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history)

## 5.56 Under the Lights

Cricket at night: the first floodlit one-dayers, the first day-night Tests and the lights at Lord's.

### Test 1: Day-night cricket

- It followed two seasons of night cricket in World Series Cricket. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Australia v West Indies, Sydney 1979)
- Pakistan were playing their home series in the United Arab Emirates. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Dubai 2016)
- He made 302 not out. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Dubai 2016)
- Alastair Cook made 243 and England won by an innings. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, England v West Indies, Edgbaston 2017)
- It was also Bangladesh's first Test with the pink ball. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Bangladesh, Kolkata 2019)
- Warwickshire played Somerset in the Sunday League. (Source: Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston history)
- Seven Test nations played the one-day tournament in Australia. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, World Championship of Cricket 1985)
- 1977-78, 1979, 1997, 2015 and 2019. (Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- Adelaide 2015, Dubai 2016, Edgbaston 2017 and Kolkata 2019. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, day-night Tests)
- The masts lower themselves so they do not tower over the houses of St John's Wood. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), floodlights)

## 5.57 Radio Days

Cricket on the wireless: the first commentaries, Ashes acted out in a studio and the voices of Test Match Special.

### Test 1: Radio

- Short passages of commentary were broadcast from Leyton. (Source: BBC history of sports broadcasting)
- The effect made the studio account sound like a live match. (Source: ABC, the synthetic Test broadcasts; National Film and Sound Archive)
- He called over 200 Tests and was much loved by listeners. (Source: ABC, Alan McGilvray obituary)
- He served in the Southampton police before joining the BBC. (Source: BBC, John Arlott obituary; Wisden)
- He handed over simply and walked out of the box to applause. (Source: BBC, John Arlott obituary; Wisden)
- He has been a voice of Test Match Special ever since. (Source: BBC Sport, Jonathan Agnew)
- Blofeld commentated on Test Match Special from 1972 to 2017. (Source: BBC Sport, Henry Blofeld)
- 1927, 1934, 1957, 1980 and 1991. (Source: BBC; ABC)
- The mid-1930s, 1946, 1972 and 1991. (Source: BBC; ABC)
- Commentators received coded cables after each over and described the play as if they were there. (Source: ABC, the synthetic Test broadcasts)

## 5.58 Practice Aids

Bowling machines, an indoor school and the home-made drills of two great batters.

### Test 1: Machines and drills

- Henry Pryor, a Welsh inventor, developed it over many years. (Source: BBC News, the Merlyn machine)
- The machine could be set to copy Warne's leg-breaks and flippers. (Source: BBC News, the Merlyn machine)
- Changing the speed of each wheel makes the ball swing or spin. (Source: BOLA, how the machine works)
- It was rebuilt in the 1990s and is still used by schools and clubs. (Source: Lord's (lords.org), Indoor School)
- If Tendulkar was not dismissed, he kept the coin. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Ramakant Achrekar obituary)
- The town now has the Bradman Museum and the Bradman Oval. (Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au))
- The ball comes off the ridges unpredictably, as it does off an edge. (Source: ECB coaching resources)
- Tendulkar said he kept thirteen of those coins. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Ramakant Achrekar obituary)
- Bradman said the game sharpened his eye and footwork. (Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au))
- He played the game for hours behind the family house. (Source: Bradman Foundation (bradman.com.au))

## 5.59 What Cricketers Wear

From top hats to numbered shirts: caps, sweaters and the first steps towards the helmet.

### Test 1: Clothing

- Old prints show batters and fielders in tall hats; caps took over later in the century. (Source: MCC Museum collection)
- It was an early home-made attempt at a protective helmet. (Source: Middlesex CCC heritage; ESPNcricinfo, Patsy Hendren)
- The Australian wore it against West Indies at Bridgetown. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, Graham Yallop profile)
- Joe Root wore 66 and Steve Smith 49 at Edgbaston. (Source: ICC; ESPNcricinfo, 2019 Ashes)
- Glenn McGrath and his late wife Jane set it up to fund breast-care nurses. (Source: McGrath Foundation, the Pink Test)
- The maroon cap is a symbol of the regional team. (Source: Cricket West Indies)
- The cable-knit sweater has bands of colour at the neck and waistband. (Source: MCC Museum collection)
- The mid-1800s, 1933, 1978 and 2019. (Source: MCC Museum; ESPNcricinfo)
- Pads before Tests began, a helmet in 1978, neck guards from 2015 and numbers in 2019. (Source: ESPNcricinfo)
- Its extra peaks and padding covered the temples and ears. (Source: Middlesex CCC heritage)

## 5.60 Television Tricks

Cricket on the screen: inventors, a cartoon duck, a jingle and the voices of television.

### Test 1: Television

- The British computer scientist's idea first reached television in the late 1990s. (Source: ESPNcricinfo, the Snickometer)
- He used a studio with replays and diagrams to break down the play. (Source: Channel 4 cricket coverage; ESPNcricinfo)
- It was the start of satellite television's long role in English cricket. (Source: Sky Sports history; ESPNcricinfo)
- It was also the last home Test shown on free-to-air television for years. (Source: BBC Sport; Channel 4)
- Animation Research Ltd also built graphics for sailing and golf. (Source: Animation Research Ltd (arl.co.nz))
- The song reached the Australian charts. (Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia)
- Listeners loved his short, calm phrases. (Source: Channel Nine; ESPNcricinfo, Richie Benaud)
- 1938, 1977, 1990, the late 1990s and 2001. (Source: BBC; Channel 4; Sky)
- 1978, 1999 and 2005. (Source: Channel Nine; Channel 4)
- Channel Nine's duck sometimes wiped a tear as it left. (Source: Channel Nine cricket coverage)

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: Wisden, ESPNcricinfo, ABC News, The Cricket Monthly, the University of Warwick, Army Technology, Red Bull. The bat-width limit of 1771, how DRS, Hawk-Eye and UltraEdge work, helmets, the pink ball and Lillee's aluminium bat are asked in Knowledge Testing and left out on purpose.

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