Smart Replay System to Make Debut at 2024 Women's T20 World Cup

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup will be the first ICC event to use the Smart Replay System. This advanced technology, previously seen in The Hundred and IPL 2024, will enhance the accuracy of umpiring decisions.

According to the ICC’s official release, the tournament will feature a minimum of 28 cameras at each match, along with various analytical and visual tools to improve the viewing experience. The Decision Review System (DRS) will be in place for all games, utilising the Hawk-Eye Smart Replay System, which allows the TV umpire to instantly review synchronised footage from multiple angles for precise decision-making.

The Smart Replay System offers a streamlined process where the TV umpire works directly with two Hawk-Eye operators in the same room, bypassing the need for a TV broadcast director to act as an intermediary. This change gives the umpire access to more visual data, including split-screen imagery, for faster and more accurate calls.

In cases of stumping referrals, the TV umpire can request split-screen visuals from the Hawk-Eye operators. If the ball clearly misses the bat, the umpire will skip UltraEdge and move straight to checking the stumping from the side-on replay. However, if there is doubt about contact between bat and ball, UltraEdge will be used to check for caught-behind scenarios.

For stumping decisions, the system will display tri-vision footage—a combination of side-on and front-on camera views in a single frame. The front-on view is crucial for clearly determining when the bails are dislodged. Unlike the previously used Stump Cam, which records at a slower 50 frames per second, Hawk-Eye cameras capture at around 300 frames per second, offering more detailed footage for umpires to base their decisions on.

As with the previous T20 World Cup, this year's tournament will feature an all-female panel of umpires and match officials, continuing the push for greater inclusivity in cricket officiating.