INNOVATION
The Kookaburra Smart Ball – Making The Ball Talk!
Leading cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra has teamed up with tech innovators SportCor to develop the SmartBall, the world’s first microchipped cricket ball. The embedded chip enables real-time feedback that will change the way we coach, play, officiate and experience the game.
The Kookaburra SmartBall looks, feels and moves the same way as a regular Kookaburra cricket ball, but collects and communicates instant statistical data on revolutions, speed -both at release, pre-bounce and post-bounce from the embedded microlight chip. Never before have we been so close to the action, nor have players and coaches had such insight to performance.
For the first time, the ball will talk.
For former International cricketer and SportCor chairman Michael Kasprowicz the Smartball is a revelation.
“SportCor and Kookaburra have produced an amazing product. As a former player, I would have loved to have had this technology at my fingertips.” Kasprowicz said.
But, it’s not only a high-performance tool.
“Spectators and lovers of cricket are now closer to the middle than ever. They’re literally at the heart of the ball.”
“In cricket, we talk about certain bowlers who appear to ‘bowl a heavy ball’. The Kookaburra SmartBall can now determine a measurement to give this meaning.”
The SmartBall will also gather information on pitch behaviour from pre and post bounce data, while future capabilities include information on whether a bat has definitively nicked a ball, whether the ball has hit the grass on low catches, and improved tracking for DRS.
For Kookaburra, an exciting new chapter for cricket has emerged.
“Kookaburra has been at the forefront of innovation in cricket, from the first ever white balls used under lights in World Series Cricket, through to the pink balls now used for day/night tests” Kookaburra Managing Director Brett Elliot said.
“The logical next step is to combine the data and analytics side of cricket that is becoming so critical to players, coaches and fans, with our traditional style of hand-making cricket balls.”
“We’re very excited about the possibilities that our partnership with SportCor and the future of the SmartBall can bring.”
For SportCor, it’s been a journey that started with a small idea and has made it to the international stage.
“The SmartBall is the culmination of years of hard work and innovations from our founder and inventor, Ben Tattersfield” Kasprowicz said.
“We are proud to be involved with an iconic brand like Kookaburra and think the possibilities are endless as we further develop the technology.”
“This product could well be essential to the kit bag of every cricketer around the world, from juniors to international stars.”
SmartBall FAQs
What is a SmartBall?
The Kookaburra SmartBall is a partnership between Kookaburra Sports and SportCor, which takes a regular Kookaburra cricket ball and embeds a SportCor electronic chip inside the core of the ball. It enables data and information to flow from inside the ball that’s being bowled.
What does it do?
The chip inside the core transmits information from the ball back to a phone/tablet app. The chip can currently measure the speed and revolutions of the ball at different stages of its journey from the hand of a bowler. This gives us new and improved insights into the delivery that has never been seen before.
How is that different to current data?
Currently there is one speed and revolution figure that is used when a ball is bowled. It comes from a fixed stationary radar that means that speed reading will be recorded at the same point regardless of the height of the bowler or their delivery plane. This has limits, most obviously it results in a speed bias to the bowler with the lower release point (either through height or action).
The difference with the SmartBall is that it is the ball telling us the speed and revolutions objectively and not from another instrument trying to capture the ball from one subjective viewpoint.
The SmartBall allows the ball to talk.
So what’s new?
There are a lot of possibilities with this but right now we are already seeing brand new data. Irrespective of the delivery height of the player, the ball tells us:
• The speed and revolutions at the release point (the moment the hand lets go)
• The speed and revolutions pre-bounce (reading just before it hits the pitch)
• The speed post-bounce (the reading just after the ball hits the pitch)
This gives a whole new insight to what it’s like in the middle, how we measure players output, and how we coach and identify talent.
The term ‘a heavy ball’ of the pace of a bowler off the wicket can now be measured. It also begs the question whether we should look at the release speed or the post-bounce speed to consider a true comparison between bowlers and the difficulty batters will have.
How is the Electronic Chip embedded into the ball?
In a Turf ball (with the 5 layer quilt) a synthetic core has been developed that replicates the weight and properties of the traditional core, but has the chip caged inside it.
A technique for curing the cork and rubber core in a traditional manner has also been developed so it can also be used inside balls of all sizes and standards (ie two piece balls, junior balls etc).
Does it play differently to a standard cricket ball?
No, all the testing is designed around a core that has the same ranges of size, weight and bounce measures as a traditional core. It fits that criteria and our testing suggests it plays no differently.
Women’s cricket?
At the moment the special core weight can’t be reduced, so a SmartBall cannot weigh in at the standard women’s ball weight of 142 grams. But this is something that is being worked on and we would expect to be able to replicate the weight of a women’s size ball very soon.
Can it handle being hit by a cricket bat?
Yes. While more testing is required for the ball we’ve seen today to enter a fully-fledged high level match, the ball and the electronic chip can handle the regular punishment from a cricket bat. We’ve both tested with bats in the nets and on Kookaburra’s regular impact testing machines that test repeated impact at upwards of 150kmh.
Is it going to be used in international cricket?
There is not enough testing done yet for it go straight into a test match tomorrow, however within the next year we hope to be in a position to offer it up to the ICC and its member boards as a ball that could be tested and used at international level. It’s likely we will see it trialled in a major Twenty20 league within the year.
Is it relevant to grassroots cricket?
All the feedback we’ve had from coaches is that the SmartBall will be a valuable coaching aid to players of all levels, from test stars right down to aspiring local junior cricketers who want to improve their bowling. The simplicity of the ball connecting to an app means that it can be used in training by any player and we expect there to be training ball made available to the public soon.
What else could it do?
That’s where the excitement lies. Today it’s giving us new data we’ve never seen in cricket before, but in six months it could be giving us much more.
The types of things that will be looked at over the next few years include:
• Definitive information on whether a ball has hit the bat, pad or ground
• Enhancements on DRS predictive technology
• Further updates on how both elite and grassroots players, coaches, umpires, broadcasters and fans can get greater information about their game
Can I buy it?
It is not available for sale yet as we are still going through testing stages but we are hoping that in the medium-term future it will be a product that will be available in some form.
What will it cost?
A retail cost is a long way off and dependent on economies of scale, but if this was to become commonplace at first-class level or even at grassroots level, we think this add-on could be kept very affordable for the sport.
How long does the battery last?
At the moment the battery lasts 8 hours which mimics a day of Test cricket. However, the battery can be recharged at any time by placing the ball in its cradle. So one day it might be commonplace that a ball is placed on the cradle for charging by the umpires at the lunch and tea break.
How long does the chip last?
At the moment the chips last approx. 18 months (outliving the normal life of a cricket ball), but we are currently working on increases to that timeframe.
Has anyone used it?
Yes, it’s been trialled and tested by some cricketers in Australia, most notably the Queensland Bulls Sheffield Shield squad. While its full capability has not been realised or data gathered by these players or teams, the trials have been conducted as a way for Kookaburra and SportCor to ascertain whether the ball plays the way it should and that the app receives accurate data. We are at a point where we are confident that we’ve achieved these objectives.
The StanceBeam Striker – Powered by Kookaburra
Kookaburra, the cricket brand renowned for its innovation in cricket has announced a partnership with StanceBeam – a global technology leader from Bangalore, India – to bring the first connected cricket bat sensor to market in 2018 that allows players of all levels instant cutting-edge analysis of their game via a mobile app.
The StanceBeam Striker can be placed on any cricket bat, giving live feedback to players, coaches and fans about their game. Using such metrics as Bat Speed, 3D Swing Analysis, Power Index and Shot Efficiency, the StanceBeam Striker is able to bring a new level of information to the fingertips of players, coaches and fans in real time via the StanceBeam App available on both the Apple ® App Store and the Google ® Play Store – creating the world’s first smart cricket bat sensor available for purchase.
“We have created a product that’s simple, easy to use and accessible to cricketers around the world” said Arminder Thind, founder and CEO of StanceBeam.
“StanceBeam measures information simply by adding the Striker sensor to the top of your own cricket bat. Then connecting to our App’s available in the Apple ® App Store and the Google ® Play Store – players, coaches and fans are able to get a complete view of their batting game.”
Managing Director of Kookaburra Sport International, Brett Elliot said the partnership with StanceBeam would bring new levels of engagement to cricketers of all abilities.
“Kookaburra has historically been at the forefront of cricket technology, whether it be white balls, pink balls or even the graphite-backed bat we briefly introduced,” said Elliot.
“The partnership with StanceBeam continues that linage, we think this tool will deepen the aspiring cricketer’s connection to the game, giving them the tools to analyse and improve that before only the international player had access to.”
The Stancebeam Striker is available for purchase immediately in Australia at Greg Chappell Cricket Centre, Kingsgrove Sports, All Cricket Gear and other select cricket retailers in Australia.
StanceBeam has also set its sights on a number of partnerships with cricketing organisations around the globe, broadcasters and media agencies to bring a new level of information to the cricketing fans through the incorporation of their unique technology into major broadcasts.
“Our goal is to work with T20 franchise leagues around the world, media organizations and broadcasters to continue to increase the fan engagement levels through the integration of our ground breaking technology – which is also available for purchase in key cricketing retailers,” said Thind.
StanceBeam Striker Features
Real Time Feedback
With a live connection, get unique metrics such as Bat Speed, Power Index and Shot Efficiency all via the app.
3D Swing Analysis
Get a full 3D analysis of your shots - both live and in detailed session summaries and reports.
Accompanied Application
Fully connected app available via both the Apple iOS Store and the Android Play Store.
Shot by Shot Review
All your shots are available for review - get a full shot by shot review of your training session or match performance.
In-Built and Cloud Storage
Includes in-built and live cloud storage so you can review session when not connected to a smartphone.
Rechargeable and Long Lasting Battery
In-built battery that lasts the distance - over six hours battery and fully rechargeable.