International Scores

International Scores

Hot Spot unlikely to be used in the World Cup

While the ICC is keen on using the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) at next year's World Cup, the tournament is unlikely to see Hot Spot, the technology most favoured by the players for its accuracy. Contrary to reports, a combination of a shortage of cameras, the high cost of acquiring and using the technology, and the sensitive nature of the equipment, makes it almost impossible for the technology to be in place by February.

"For the World Cup 2011, there is no chance for Hot Spot being available for all 50+ early round matches," Warren Brennan, the owner of BBG Sports, the firm that supplies the technology, told Cricinfo in an email. "At present we only have four Hot Spot cameras, this would limit us to providing Hot Spot for only quarter-final matches onwards.

"This would include two cameras for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the possibility of four cameras for the final in Mumbai. This is something I have discussed with David Richardson from the ICC, but have not had any updates in the past 6 weeks."

According to Brennan, to have had enough cameras for the World Cup, an order for an additional eight to 10 Hot Spot cameras should have been placed in January or February this year. The cameras take four to six months to build and there are only four or five companies in the world that have the know-how to make them.

And each time BBG wants to buy a new one, it has to undergo a security check because the cameras are classified as military equipment. These checks can take up to three months to complete. "We have to go through various processes," Brennan said. "Are they good guys? Can we trust them? Have they sold any cameras to Al-Qaeda? You can't just go into a 7-Eleven and buy one. "

Brennan also said he needs help from the ICC and the boards to bring the cost of the system down. Hot Spot, which uses infra-red imaging technology to determine whether the ball has struck the bat, pad or batsman, currently costs $6,000 per day for a two-camera setup and $10,000 per day for a four-camera setup.

Under the current system, the broadcaster has to bear the cost of using the UDRS but isn't always able to do so. Pakistan, for example, opted not to have the referral system when they played Australia in England because it was unaffordable. "They [the ICC] know that if they want to take the system further, they have to figure out the funding models," Brennan said.

The absence of Hot Spot does not rule out the possibility of UDRS being used in the World Cup. The ICC's minimum requirements for the referral system only include ball tracking technology (Hawk-Eye), super slow-motion cameras and a clean audio feed from the stump microphone. Hot Spot is "desirable", but not a requirement at this point, according to an ICC spokesperson.

But some top players have spoken out in favour of Hot Spot, the most recent being Sachin Tendulkar. After completing his fifth Test double-hundred in the second Test against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar made it clear he prefers Hot Spot over the basic UDRS.

"I am not fully convinced with the referral system (UDRS)," Tendulkar said. "When I was here last time I was not convinced with many decisions. I did not feel comfortable; it was an experiment which I felt. I would rather go with the Hot Spot because that establishes the contact between the bat and the ball. That it is far better system according to me. The Hot Spot is much better."

Premadasa Stadium still behind schedule - ICC

The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, one of the venues for the 2011 World Cup, is still behind schedule in terms of readiness of the pitch. The ICC completed its routine three-day venue inspection in Sri Lanka and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the two new international venues, Pallekele and Hambantota.

The Premadasa is the only ground in Colombo with floodlights, and Sri Lanka Cricket is spending eight million dollars to renovate the stadium and relay the pitch. The inspection team made a similar unfavourable progress report in February, when the ICC's pitch consultant Andy Atkinson said that work on the playing area was behind schedule. Four months on, he said the status hadn't changed much.

"Premadasa is a worry for me," Atkinson told AFP. "I would like to get some games in to try out the pitch conditions before the big show next year."

Eugene van Vuuren, the ICC's structural engineer, said good progress had been made at the other two venues. "With the exception of the Premadasa stadium, others are on track to play a few first-class and international matches before the tournament starts next February," van Vuuren said.

The Suriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota, on the Southern coast, is due to host its maiden first-class domestic match in July. The Pallekele Stadium near Kandy has held an Under-19 match.

Sri Lanka will stage 12 matches, with the Premadasa hosting seven, including the first semi-final. Hambantota and Pallekele will host two and three games respectively.

World Cup final a dream - Tendulkar

Every time Sachin Tendulkar walks out to bat he has the hopes of billions rested on his shoulders, yet when India co-host the World Cup next year expectations will reach even greater levels. The final will be hosted in Mumbai, Tendulkar's home town, but he is refusing to let his mind wander towards the prospect of a moment that would crown his career.

"As far as the World Cup is concerned it is a process. We don't want to jump to the 50th floor straight away, we must start on the ground floor," he said. "We must take it step-by-step but to get there would be a fascinating journey. It is our dream, not just mine but the entire nation, to get there. To play the final in Mumbai is something you can only dream of and everything has to come together.

"But if we can play to the best of our potential then I think we can do something we have been longing to do for quite some time."

Tendulkar is currently taking a break from the game but will return to Indian colours for the Test series against Sri Lanka next month. The five-day format has suddenly taken on a much greater priority in India - although Tendulkar, himself, has always been adamant it is the main brand of the game - after the team reached No. 1 in the world.

They will look to consolidate that position against Sri Lanka before a mouth-watering contest in South Africa at the end of the year as the top two ranked teams go head-to-head over three Tests at Centurion, Durban and Cape Town. It will be a huge challenge for India to compete in foreign conditions against the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but Tendulkar doesn't want to let the top spot slip away after working so hard for the honour.

"To be number one is special, it was our dream and our target to get to the number one spot in Test cricket," he said. "We have had a good run in the last 20 months. Everyone wants to be number one and we cannot relax because there are other countries who want to be number one. It means a lot to us."

At 37, it won't be too long before Tendulkar calls time on his stellar career. He has already cut back his Twenty20 commitments and doesn't play that format internationally, while he also declined a deal with Middlesex this season to spend more time with his family. However, for the time being he has no plans to end his Test or one-day days.

"I want to play for as long as possible and as long as I have the desire and the hunger I will carry on," he said. "The day I do not want to get out of bed and do anything then I know it will be time to go in another direction."

2011 Cricket World Cup

The World Cup is a one-day international tournament that dates back to 1975, when eight teams competed in England. West Indies dominated the first three events, winning the first two and losing surprisingly to India in the final of the third in 1983.

Since those early years the format has expanded and in the last World Cup in 2007, 16 countries played a total of 52 games over 46 days.

Australia have enjoyed a prolific run in recent times, lifting the last three Cups and winning all 22 matches of their 2003 and 2007 campaigns.

The next World Cup will be hosted jointly by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka in 2011 and will feature 14 nations. The event opens with Bangladesh playing India on February 19 and the final will contested in Mumbai on April 2.