Black Caps play computer game (7 May 1999)

7 May 1999

Black Caps play computer game

The Christchurch Press

New Zealand Cricket has gone hi-tech in its effort to win the World Cup and test series in England.

Every ball played by the Black Caps in the internationals will be logged into the latest in digital computer technology analysis system.

The equipment, worth about $35,000, is being entrusted to Christchurch cricket scorer Peter Mayell throughout the tour.

Mayell is familiar with computer systems, having been involved with the installation of Signopsys computers at cricket grounds and a scorer at club and provincial level for the past 11 years.

The new tool purchased from a Perth company is monitored by the New Zealand team's technical adviser, Ashley Ross, and is regarded as a breakthrough in game analysis.

It was first experimented with during New Zealand's home test series against South Africa and looks like becoming as much a part of the cricketers' team kit as the gear coffin.

Every ball bowled or faced by a New Zealander is coded and broken down into different aspects. The system keys in bowler's deliveries, (too full, too short) whether the batsman played back or forward, whether he played or missed, if he scored and where he scored.

After play, the information is able to be down-loaded and called up almost instantaneously when wanting to assess a New Zealand batsman or bowler's technique or an opposition weakness. At the end of each day's play the information will be used in debriefing sessions.

Ross has the New Zealand bowlers aiming to achieve 75 per cent efficiency with their bowling, that is three-quarters of the balls bowled in the channel just outside off-stump.

"If they can do that they should win most of their matches Ashley believes," Mayell said.

Mayell was heading to England later in the year, but brought his departure forward to today to link with the team and its cup campaign, which starts on May 17 against Bangladesh.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)