Hot Spot is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad. Hot Spot requires two infrared cameras on opposite sides of the ground above the field of play that are continuously recording an image. Any suspected snick or bat/pad event can be verified by examining the infrared image, which usually shows a bright spot where contact friction from the ball has elevated the local temperature. Wherereferrals to an off-field third umpire are permitted, thetechnology is used to enhance the on-field umpire's decision making accurancy. Where referrals are not permitted, the technology is used primarily as an analysis aid for televised coverage.
Hot Spot uses technology developed in the military for tank and jet fighter tracking. Thetechnology was adapted for television by BBG Sports, the Australian company responsible for the Snickometer, in conjunction with Sky Sports.
The technology was first used by the Australian Nine network during the first Test match of the 2006-07 Ashes at The Gabba, on 23 November 2006.
Its principal application in cricket is in deciding whether the ball has struck the batsman's bat or pad — this determination being critical in determining if a batsmanis dismissed or not on appeal for LBW or caught.
In considering whether a batsman is out when the ball strikes bat or pad and is then caught by a member of the fielding team, one of the most difficult decisions is whether the ball struck the pad only, or the bat only, or (if it struck both) whether the pad or the bat was struck first. If the ball strikes the bat only, or strikes the bat followed by the pad, then the batsman could be out-caught but not LBW. If the ball strikes the pad only, then the batsman could be out LBW but not caught. If the ball strikes the pad followed by the bat, then the batsman is out caught if a fielder takes a catch but could be out LBW if the catch is not taken. The batsman's bat and pad are often close together, and it can be very hard to determine by eye which was struck first, whereas the hotspot technology can often resolve the question.
Hot-spot imagery is also used to show which part of the cricket bat hit the ball, as ideally the batsmen try to "middle" the ball i.e. hit it where the sweet spot lies. Hot spot camera provides some valuable information while analyzing the strokes played by a batsman.
Hot Spot has a particular advantage over its competingtechnology, the Snickometer, which is a sound-detection based system. Snickometer often produces inconclusive results indicating contact (potentially any combination of bat, pad and ball) only, whereas the Hot Spot clearly shows exactly what the ball strikes.
Hotspot technology, even though claimed to be extremely accurate, is not used in many matches. The main reason for this is its expense: $6000 per day for the use of two cameras and $10000 for the use of four cameras.
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