Maule JJ, Maguire R, Timmis MA, Runswick OR, Wilkins L, Mann DL, Dain SJ, Bosten JM, Allen PM. Difficult at dusk? Illuminating the debate on cricket ball visibility.
J Sci Med Sport 2024:S1440-2440(24)00052-5. [PMID:
38423830 DOI:
10.1016/j.jsams.2024.02.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Investigate the visibility of new and old red, white and pink cricket balls under lighting and background conditions experienced during a day-night cricket match.
DESIGN
We modelled the luminance contrast signals available for a typical observer for a ball against backgrounds in a professional cricket ground, at different times of day.
METHODS
Spectral reflectance (light reflected as a function of wavelength) was derived from laboratory measurements of new and old red, white and pink balls. We also gathered spectral measurements from backgrounds (pitch, grass, sightscreens, crowd, sky) and spectral illuminance during a day-night match (natural afternoon light, through dusk to night under floodlights) from Lord's Cricket Ground (London, UK). The luminance contrast of the ball relative to the background was calculated for each combination of ball, time of day, and background surface.
RESULTS
Old red and old pink balls may offer little or no contrast against the grass, pitch and crowd. New pink balls can also be of low contrast against the crowd at dusk, as can pink and white balls (of any age) against the sky at dusk.
CONCLUSIONS
Reports of difficulties with visibility of the pink ball are supported by our data. However, our modelling also shows that difficulties with visibility may also be expected under certain circumstances for red and white balls. The variable conditions in a cricket ground and the changing colour of an ageing ball make maintaining good visibility of the ball a challenge when playing day-night matches.
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