Wellington, August 12: With technology already playing a major role in cricket, one major innovation can be a cricket ball with an embedded microchip that could hit Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) this summer. Kookaburra, the Australian ball manufacturer, is keen to see it used at test level soon, reports stuff.co.nz. Big Bash League 2019–20: Cricket Australia Introduces ‘Five-Team Finals Series’ for BBL 09.

According to the report, Kookaburra is in the final stages of testing the new product  SmartBall having the ability to deliver instant statistics on the speed at release point, pre-bounce and post-bounce which are more comprehensive and accurate than a normal radar. It will also measure revolutions at the same points, which is unprecedented in-game data for spinners. Cricket could make Olympic Debut in 2028, Feels MCC Chairman Mike Gatting.

This SmartBall can in future assist the umpiring and Decision Review System (DRS) process by showing whether a ball has definitively hit the bat or the grass, in the case of catches that are too close to call. SportCor, a firm chaired by former Australian pacer Michael Kasprowicz, has teamed up with Kookaburra to make the innovation happen.

The companies involved in the project are insisting the SmartBall be first used in one of the world's many T20 leagues in the coming months, with the BBL firmly on their agenda. And if it's found to be successful there then it could be used in international games.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2019 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).