10 predictions Bob Woolmer made for cricket in 21st century

The late Bob Woolmer is widely regarded as one of cricket’s most innovative thinkers. A free-thinking coach, who earned a name whilst being in charge of Warwickshire in the early 90s, his reputation grew during his 5 years (1994-99) at the helm of the South African national team. One of the pioneers to take a laptop computer into the dressing room and use it as a tool, his coaching methods encouraged players to think beyond the accepted boundaries of the game.

In 1999, Woolmer, then coaching the South African cricket team, wrote an article in India Today predicting the future of ODIs by the time the year 2010 came by. He himself used an idea that he had suggested would gain prominence in the near future - communicating with a walkie-talkie and an earpiece device in a South Africa-India World Cup game at Hove with skipper Hansie Cronje. Both were reprimanded and fined after India reported the act.

Hansie Cronje taped an ear-piece to be in constant touch with Bob Woolmer during the 1999 World Cup

Nonetheless, his vision has turned out to be remarkably prescient with 7 of his predictions coming true. Although he predicted these things to happen by 2010, it is a good measure of his understanding of how far the game can go with the adoption of technology. He had one hell of a crystal ball. Listed are the 10 predictions he made for ODI cricket in the 21st century.

#1 One bouncer per over

In the middle overs, bowlers are allowed one bouncer per batsman per over.

The bouncer is a vital weapon in a bowler's arsenal

Verdict: Half-Correct

Two bouncers per over are allowed, not one per over per batsman. This is one of the rule changes that has helped the hapless situation of bowlers confronted with modern bats good enough to clear boundaries with a leading edge. Woolmer pressed for an even contest between the batsmen and bowlers and felt that taking away the bouncer emasculates the bowlers who can be manhandled on flat tracks.

#2 Extra runs for longer boundaries

On each ground, the area where the boundary is the longest will be marked out. If the ball goes over that boundary, it is worth 8 runs.

The Gabba is one of the few grounds left that has long boundaries

Verdict: Incorrect

A rare instance where Woolmer went wrong. One thing he probably didn't envision was the grounds getting smaller with boundaries conveniently coming in several meters. In fact, with the shrinking of boundaries, the opposite should be the case with only 3 runs given to any boundary that is shorter than 70 metres. That's not going to happen in the hyper-commercialized, slam-bang version of ODIs, especially since T20 is here to stay.

#3 Virtual Reality Helmet

The new-wave helmets will allow batsmen to watch a replay of previous deliveries.

Woolmer made 10 predictions in a special World Cup Edition for India Today

Verdict: Incorrect

Batsmen can watch replays on the huge LED display screens if they want in the stadiums. This idea has not been implemented even though the technology is available. A virtual reality kit is too expensive and tilts the balance towards the batsman. Virtual helmets can, however, be a part of the new spectator experience in stadiums, as well as on television. It could be trialled for the more commercial T20 leagues in the immediate future.

#4 Radio Communications

Batsmen will wear a mike/earphones to communicate with the coach in the pavilion.

Kevin Pietersen with a two-way earpiece and a camera during the Big Bash

Verdict: Partially Correct

The player-coach radio communication is still considered to be unfair and kept away from the game. However, Big Bash, IPL, Ram Slam and other T20 leagues now have commentators speaking to players on the ground with an ear-piece. It is entertaining and gives the audience another live perspective. Invariably, the ear-piece kits are worn by charismatic players with a gift of gab, either while fielding, bowling or batting.

#5 Standardised Pitches

Surfaces have the same moisture and hardness through a tournament, so the toss can't favour one side. Alternatively, the side away from home has a choice of innings.

Toss can be still a decisive factor in ODIs, something Woolmer was against

Verdict: Incorrect (but likely to be trialed)

While drop-in pitches are becoming common, it's not quite standard across countries. The away side getting the choice to bat or field is an idea that should be tried irrespective of the quality and nature of the pitch. The ICC has even discussed it. The pitches should not be uniform as it negates the home advantage and importantly, diminishes the variety of surfaces that cricket is played on, giving it depth and the scope of varied narratives.

#6 Innovative Equipment

Batsmen will wear special lightweight pads and shoes made especially for sprinting.

The new helmets with additional protection to the back of the neck

Verdict: Correct

This is a given. Pads are lightweight and so are the other protective pieces of equipment. The running between the wickets has seen an improvement as a direct consequence. The honeycomb introduced after Phillip Hughes' tragic death is also a testament that equipment will continue to evolve for the better. The special keeper's helmet is another recent innovation that will be common-place soon.

#7 Changing the white ball

Since the white ball's colour changes, a 25-over old ball is used from the 35th over. It is a compulsory change.

Two new balls have made scoring runs easier

Verdict: Correct

It was done. Subsequently, the ICC introduced 2 balls from each end, which keeps the balls hard and in shape, excessively aiding the stroke-makers. A six is not an event, it is a frequent occurrence now. Reverting to Woolmer's idea is a good decision because it opens up the possibility for reverse swing to happen in ODIs, which have recently disconcertingly skewed towards the batsmen. Only a few Pakistani pacers are able to reverse a 20-over odd ball.

#8 The Techno Umpire

Balls and bats are fitted with chips and using sophisticated camera equipment, edges for catches, inside edges and lbw can be traced.

Snickometer comes to the aid in case of fine edges, bat-pad and inside edge related appeals

Verdict: Correct

Though the chips are not there, the stump camera, microphone and HD cameras have made rapid progress to help the on-field and TV umpires make an informed decision. The evolution of the capabilities of the stump camera set-up has been remarkable. Fewer debatable decisions are made in cricket than ever before. The spidercam and the zing bails are other innovations which are raising the spectacle index of cricket .

#9 Checking for lbws

A shaded area is marked on either side of the stumps. When an lbw appeal is made, the computer will show whether the ball hit the batsman outside the stumps or not.

The pitch map is a part of the Decision Review System (DRS)

Verdict: Correct

It is fair to say that this time, the technology exceeded Woolmer's expectations. Snicko, Hotspot, Hawk-Eye, Super Slow Motion help make a very informed decision for lbws. The DRS system is an extremely welcome acculturation of technology, adapted from other sports like tennis; and though not fool-proof, is extremely efficient and a definite step in the right direction for the game.

#10 Warm-up Areas

In the pavilion itself, a net is provided for batsmen to warm up before going in.

Practice nets are usually made use of by batsmen batting 2-down and below

Verdict: Correct

The facility is not present in all stadiums but it is a trend that is increasingly being adopted in world-class grounds. T20 cricket has bowlers and batsmen warming up all the time as the speed at which the game is going is rapid. The trick is to have the warm-up zones close to the entrance of the ground, so that if and when a wicket falls, the batsman next in line can sprint in, at a moment's notice.