Snickometer in Cricket: What It Is and How It Works
The Snickometer and its successor UltraEdge detect bat-ball contact using microphone audio, providing a visible sound waveform that helps umpires and broadcasters confirm edges.
The Snickometer was invented by Alan Plaskett and first used in cricket broadcasts in the mid-1990s. It combines a sensitive stump microphone with a waveform display that visualises sound at the moment the ball passes the bat. A sharp spike in the waveform coinciding precisely with the ball passing the bat indicates an edge. The system became a popular television tool, though it was originally too slow for DRS use in the 2000s.
UltraEdge: The Real-Time Successor
UltraEdge was developed by Hawk-Eye and introduced to DRS in 2013 as a real-time version of the Snickometer. Unlike the original Snickometer — which required a few seconds of processing — UltraEdge processes audio in near real-time and is integrated with the ball-tracking footage so that the frame-by-frame video and the waveform are synchronised. Umpires reviewing a decision can see exactly which frame the ball was adjacent to the bat alongside any sound spike.
How to Read the UltraEdge Waveform
The UltraEdge display shows a horizontal time axis with a waveform that is flat (near zero) when there is no significant sound. A genuine edge produces a sharp, narrow spike at the moment the ball passes the bat. Background noise — crowd, bowler's footfall, wind — produces irregular, lower amplitude disturbances that are visually distinguishable from a clean edge spike. A wicketkeeper's glove, a batsman shuffling feet, or pad-hit can also produce spikes, so DRS officials look for a spike at the precise moment of ball-bat alignment.
Limitations
UltraEdge can produce false positives when a batsman adjusts their grip at the moment of delivery — the hand movement creates a sound very similar to a thin edge. It also struggles in very noisy grounds where background microphone bleed is high. The 2013 Ashes and the 2019 Ashes both featured controversies involving UltraEdge decisions. DRS protocols require a clear, unambiguous spike before overturning an on-field decision, giving the umpire the benefit of the doubt in marginal cases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Snickometer and UltraEdge?
The original Snickometer took several seconds to process and was a broadcast tool only. UltraEdge (Hawk-Eye's version) provides near-real-time waveform analysis integrated with video, making it suitable for DRS decision reviews.
How reliable is UltraEdge in the DRS?
UltraEdge is highly sensitive and generally reliable for clear edges. It has known limitations with very thin edges, noisy grounds and grip adjustments, which is why DRS requires an unambiguous spike before overturning the on-field decision.