Technologies that changed cricket over the years

Snicko (Snickometer) and Hotspot

Snicko in use during an Ashes Test match in 2013.

Snicko (or Snickometer as it is known as) is a type of a sensitive microphone which picks up any sound when the ball passes through (whether it hits the bat, pad or the body of the batsman). It was invented to pick up edges for caught-behinds or inside-edges for LBWs.

This Snicko usually detects the presence of an edge i.e. if the batsman has nicked a delivery or has got an inside edge onto the pad. The Snicko has become an integral part of the Decision Review System (DRS) and has helped the third umpires detect edges.

Hotspot is currently an integral part of the Decision Review System (DRS) in most places around the world. It is a very expensive technology but it is used in conjunction with Snicko to detect edges and faint nicks. Hotspot is an infrared technology used to capture images of whether the batsman has made any contact with the ball.

Sometimes, the Snicko might fail if there is too much disturbance around the batsman and the Snicko might detect a lot of sound waves but Hotspot works on heat waves and sometimes can determine faintest of edges as well. Like Snicko, Hotspot is used to help third-umpires detect edges for caught behind, or an inside-edge for LBW and more such decisions.

How hotspot looks when there is an edge.