LED stumps and bails in T20 cricket: 10 things you must know

If you have been watching the World T20 on television you would have noticed the stumps lighting up each time the ball crashes against it or the wicketkeeper whips the bails off. That's because of LED technology, a new innovation in cricket.

Bronte EcKermann, the inventor of LED stumps, has said he would not mind giving Mahendra Singh Dhoni one as a souvenir if India, which has made it to the semi-finals, wins the ongoing ICC tournament.

'Well, this is a very costly system. The entire set-up during a match costs US$ 40,000 (Rs 25 lakh approx), so I don't allow the players to uproot it during any celebrations. But I know Dhoni loves keeping a souvenir stump. If India can win the final, I might get into some arrangement with Dhoni,' EcKermann said.

While the new innovation is providing television viewers and spectators an enhanced experience and getting them more involved, here are ten things you must know about the LED stumps:

1. The innovation was conceived by Bronte EcKermann, an Australian mechanical industrial designer, and created by South Australian manufacturer Zing International. It is called the Zing Wicket System.

2. It was first tried out in a club game in Adelaide. Once Cricket Australia was convinced about using it instead of the wooden stumps for night matches, it was decided that it would be used in the 2012 edition of the Big Bash League in Australia.

- Please click NEXT for more...

3. The technology was introduced after three years of intense research.

The International Cricket Council used it for the first time during the semi-finals and final of the recent Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the UAE.

Besides the ICC under-19 World Cup, the stumps have been used in T20 competitions in New Zealand, Australia and the West Indies. India could see the use of LED stumps and bails in the upcoming seventh edition of the Indian Premier League.

4. With conventional bails, it is difficult for the umpire to tell when the bail is 'completely dislodged’. A bail is only 'completely dislodged’ from a wicket when BOTH spigots have separated from their stump grooves.

- Please click NEXT for more...

5. Low voltage batteries are incorporated in each of the bails and stumps.

A microprocessor in each bail detects when BOTH spigots are dislodged from the stump grooves.

6. The wickets come fitted with LED. The bails also have an in-built sensor than can determine if a wicket is broken, in just 1/1000th of a second.

- Please click NEXT for more...

7. They are made of composite plastic and the LEDs glimmer at the slightest impact with the ball.

8. The stumps and bails illuminate when dislodged. When the wicket is broken, the bails flash bright red LED light.

- Please click NEXT for more..

9. Even if a wicketkeeper makes a stumping, the lights flash. It helps the umpires to come up with correct decisions especially during close stumping and run-outs.

10. Each bail costs as much as an iPhone.

A complete set required for a match costs $40,000, approximately Rs 25 lakh!.