For the upcoming Champions Trophy, the International Cricket Council (the ICC) and Intel are working to integrate new technologies (like a smart cricket bat) into the sport.
Intel has announced that it will be using drones, virtual reality and smart bats at the tournament to better analyze an already highly technical sport. Drones will measure pitch conditions before each match and produce reports that will be sent directly to commentators. Fans at the game will be able to face a bowler in an immersive cricket environment and players will be able to practice in between bats with real-time stats on a VR headset. The most important edge for the players will be the integration of smart cricket bats that measure each swing and immediately send statistics to the coach during the game.
The digitization of sports is an ongoing process and the ICC is the most recent organization to adopt the integration of technology to better players and the game.
Smart Cricket Bats
Intel is Introducing VR, Drones and Bat Sensors to Cricket
Trend Themes
1. Smart Sports Equipment - There is an opportunity to create other smart sports equipment that can measure and analyze athlete performance in real-time.
2. VR for Sports Analysis - Virtual reality can be used to record and analyze athletes' movements, which can be helpful for coaches and trainers to improve players' performance.
3. Drone-assisted Match Analysis - Using drones to capture footage of pitch conditions before and during matches can provide valuable data to coaches and teams for strategic planning.
Industry Implications
1. Sports Equipment Manufacturing - Sports equipment manufacturers can explore the use of technology to create innovative sports equipment that can measure and analyze athlete performance.
2. Sports Analytics - Companies specializing in sports analytics can use VR technology to record and analyze athletes' movements in order to provide insights to coaches and trainers.
3. Drone Technology - Drone technology companies can develop specialized drones for sports analysis and help teams and coaches capture valuable data for strategic planning.