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Measuring the speed of the fastest ball in cricket involves using advanced technology and equipment. Here’s how it is typically done:
1. Speed Guns
Technology: Radar-based speed guns are positioned behind the bowler or near the pitch.
Mechanism: The radar emits waves that bounce off the moving cricket ball. The change in frequency of the returned waves (Doppler effect) is used to calculate the ball’s speed.
Application: Widely used in professional matches, particularly in televised games.
2. Hawk-Eye Technology
Technology: A computer-based system with high-speed cameras placed around the ground.
Mechanism: Cameras track the ball’s trajectory in 3D. Speed is calculated by analyzing consecutive frames and the distance the ball travels between them.
Advantages: Provides precise data and additional insights like ball trajectory and bounce.
3. High-Speed Cameras
Technology: Ultra-high-speed cameras are used to capture the ball’s motion.
Mechanism: By analyzing the distance covered by the ball in a given frame rate, the speed is determined.
Application: Useful for close analysis in labs or specialized training facilities.
4. Smart Balls
Technology: Balls embedded with microchips or sensors.
Mechanism: The sensors track the speed and spin directly from within the ball.
Application: Emerging technology, not yet standard in professional cricket.
5. Manual Methods (Less Accurate)
Stopwatch and Distance: Manually measure the time taken by the ball to travel a set distance and calculate speed using the formula: Speed=DistanceTime\text{Speed} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Time}}
Drawback: Prone to human error and not reliable for high-speed measurements.
Accuracy and Challenges
Speed measurements are typically taken right after the ball leaves the bowler’s hand, where it is fastest.
Environmental factors like wind and pitch conditions may slightly affect readings.
In professional cricket, radar-based speed guns and Hawk-Eye are the most common tools for measuring ball speed during matches.