The system's 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
batsman is
out or
not on
appeal for
LBW or
caught. In considering whether a batsman is out, it can be difficult when the ball strikes the bat and is then caught by a member of the fielding team. It can also be caught in front of the stumps when the ball hits the pad. One of the most difficult decisions is whether the ball struck the pad or 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 in front of the stumps or inline with the stumps, then the batsman could be out
LBW but not caught. Also, if the ball strikes the pad followed by the bat, then the batsman could be
out LBW or
out caught if a fielder catches the ball. 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. == Mechanism ==