Short Pitched Delivery Judgement
Training Objectives (What we want to achieve)
To assess and improve the umpire’s judgment of the height of fast short pitched balls in relation to the batsman, both from the bowler’s end and square leg.
To assess current teamwork techniques regarding this area - to improve upon them and ensure that the correct judgement is made without compromising the players’ respect for the umpires’ decision making. (Have bowler’s end umpire trust the judgment call of square leg.)
Process (How are we going to do it)
The training illustrated in this document took place at the indoor net facilities (ICC Global Cricket Academy) using 5 net spaces. It can be replicated in any environment that has the same equipment. We used one end net and we left the other nets clear to simulate the square on a cricket field. This involved drawing back the net dividing curtains to create the free space. This allowed for the umpire at square leg to stand at least 25 meters away from the striker.
One person operated a bowling machine that had been set up to deliver fast short pitched balls around the shoulder and head height of the batsman in his normal stance. (Some training and instruction is required on the operation and use of the machine and is to be sought and provided prior to the exercise starting). The optimal speed and direction of the bowling machine needs to be also set up prior to the training session commencing - a guide speed of 75mph is recommended. Red plastic balls were used in this session. (It is optional to use white practice balls to simulate a one-day match). The colour of the ball is important to simulate the match conditions applicable.
Two umpires are to be tested and trained at a time. One is to stand at the bowler’s end next to the bowling machine with the other standing in his normal position at square leg. The umpires are to use their own ball counters and count two consecutive overs from their original positions before they then swap positions with each other and count another two consecutive overs.
The batsman used should be encouraged to vary the way he plays the short ball to simulate what a normal batsman would do in a game. He should duck occasionally, play the upper cut shot, and stand / defend. There should be enough natural variation with the balls used in the bowling machine to provide natural variation of height without having to manually adjus tthe height of the machine after commencement of the process.
Each umpire will have a person standing next to them with the Recording Spreadsheet R1. They are to inform the recorder individually as to the height of the ball or where it would have passed in relation to the batsman for each delivery.The recorder will record all decisions on ‘Spreadsheet R1’ accordingly using the suggested legend codes …
W Wide (over-head height standing up)
S Above shoulder but not a wide
F Fair delivery, no call
The ICC trainer or coach is to ensure the cameras are set up at the bowler’s end and square leg so that they are just above the line of the umpires’ head, so that he can record the actual height of the ball in relation to the batsman. He is to ensure each delivery is tracked / marked on video through the use of a scoreboard displayed front on and one side on. For example, before the first delivery is sent down the scoreboard will identify the umpire/ group number and then also the ball number - ‘ball 1’, then ‘ball 22, etc. up to ‘ball 12’ until the module is finished for that pair of umpires. The recording speed of the video should be such that it can be slowed down to accurately assess the judgement skills of the umpires.
After the pair of umpires has participated in making judgements for two complete overs at each end, they are to be replaced with another two umpires who shall then complete the same module. This will continue to be repeated until all umpires have completed the module.
The coach is to schedule which umpires are to be paired up with each other and which order they are to conduct the module in. This is to be advised to the umpires upon them arriving at the nets before the first module starts. If more than one pair of umpires are to participate in the training, then the other spare umpires not involved at the time can act as recorders and ball machine operator.
Once the practical training session is completed, all participants and the coach should go to the video room where the computer and monitor are. The footage from the session should be reviewed and compared with the markings on the spreadsheet R1. The footage for each delivery should be viewed, actual height assessed by the coach from the video and compared to what and how the umpires have ruled. Out of the 12 deliveries, each umpire is to be given feedback as to their accuracy and teamwork techniques reviewed and discussed.
The footage recorded in the session was reviewed using Silicon Coach Software. Silicon coach is software that allows many videos to be played simultaneously in a split screen mode to analyze the videos from different camera angles.Before playing the videos, they must be synchronized, and this can be done by providing the video with an in-point and out-point and the pixels used as a sync reference for all the videos. The footage from the two different camera angles(i.e., front and side) are to be played in a synchronized split screen mode to help both, the main umpire, and the square leg umpire to analyze their footage and help the trainer to assess and rectify their mistakes. Silicon Coach allows the user to play the video in a frame-by-frame basis which makes it easier for the trainer to judge the umpires and hence should be used for better accuracy and analysis. While analyzing the footage, it is always better to have a reference point of the batsmen in the standing position. This can be done in Silicon Coach every time you start analyzing a new set of umpires using the edit toolbar.
It may be necessary to develop a screen template to lay over the top of the monitor to indicate where the shoulder or head of the striker is (standing up) so that accurate height judgment can be properly assessed - this will be venue specific depending upon what recording,and monitors are available for use.
The umpires are to then to deliver feedback to the coach as to the appropriateness and success of the training exercise and determine whether it should be repeated later as an effective training tool.
Other variations of thisactivity could involve:
signals to each umpire being used or not used,
counting of balls per over between the umpires (2 to go process),
using variation of indoor pitch lanes for different types of bounce
vary speed and angle of bowling machine
ball thrown to judge waist high full tosses
Training Tools/Time Required (What we need)
5 Indoor nets
One bowling machine (plus one operator if necessary)
One bucket of at least 12 red plastic cricket balls (or white)
Umpires’ counters x 2
One batsman kitted up to bat who can play the short ball
Two cameras- one front on and one side on
Meeting room with computer and screen (program to view footage)
Recording spreadsheets, folders, and pens x 2
Scoreboard(s) to indicate and record ball number on camera
Practical training time required is approximately 15 minutes for each pair of umpires
Review time in meeting room is approximately 25 minutes depending upon umpire/ trainer outcomes and group discussion.
Silicon Coachor Dartfish software plus experienced operator
Anticipated/Desired Outcomes For Coach
Accuracy of height should be greater at square leg on review
Compare the bowler’s end umpire’s marking with that of the square leg. Usual outcomes are
Umpire at bowler’s end assesses height of the ball lower that it actually was, which can be seen on the video clip.
Umpire at bowler’s end unsure exactly when the ball passes the batsman making the calling of this delivery difficult to be accurate
Confirm that square leg is the best place to judge height from, therefore the bowler’s end umpire should trust and follow the square leg guide all of the time (unless square leg indicates that he is unsighted)
Marginal calls on height should be called and signaled: -
If marginal for shoulder height- signal ‘one for the over’
If marginal for head height - call and signal ‘wide’
Agree the technique (and signal) when the square leg umpire does not pick up the ball and cannot support his partner, and the bowler’s end umpire will make the call.
Confirm the technique of the square leg signaling two for the over after a wide or no ball on the second last or last ball. Important training. (Only if variation option 2 above is used).
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