CHENNAI: Anil Kumble, who is known to advocate the use of technology to help players improve, has come up with an innovation to help batsmen improve their skills. This will be used by players in the Tamil Nadu Premier League beginning on July 11. “Spektacom is a unique concept whereby a chip-like sticker is stuck at the top-end behind the bat. When a batsman hits the ball, one can judge the power with which he hits and also the areas (sweet spot and so on) by monitoring it on a mobile phone with an app,’’ said Kumble. “It is a company that I founded. Microsoft tech is behind it. This is a smart sticker and once you put this on the bat, it becomes a smart bat.
This is a technology that we are bringing into TNPL and we are glad that TNPL has given us a platform,” added the most successful Indian Test bowler. The former India captain and coach welcomes the initiative of the TNCA to take TNPL to the districts. “It is important to take the game to the hinterland. We have seen the kind of support the game gets when you take it to smaller centres. No matter how much you watch on television, if you see your heroes in flesh and blood that makes a big difference.” Suresh Raina had said that because of IPL and other T20 leagues like TNPL, fielding standards have improved. “One skill that is definitely needed in this format is fielding.
We have seen that in T20s a catch or run out makes a big impact,’’ he said. Kumble felt variations are helping wrist-spinners shine in the shortest format. “Bowling is about creating doubts in a batsman’s mind. The batsman takes a fraction of a second to decide what to do. That is the determining factor for a wrist-spinner. In this format there is hardly room for experimenting. So you try to be smart and mix up your deliveries, bowl the googly, the flipper and keep confusing the batsman.” He is confident that India will do well in England.
“We have an all-round side with quality batsmen. Many have played over 50 Tests. We also have the best spinners in the world. Plus, we are playing the second half of the English summer. The wickets will have wear and tear. There might be rain but the conditions will not be like the first half of the summer. There is not much difference in SG and Duke balls. Our boys must be prepared by now. It’s a good opportunity for us to do well in England.” ashok.v@newindianexpress.com