Snickometer in Cricket: Detecting the Sound of an Edge
How the Snickometer uses audio waveforms to detect whether a cricket ball has edged the bat in disputed dismissal decisions.
The Snickometer, often abbreviated to Snicko, is an audio technology system used in cricket to detect very faint sounds generated when a cricket ball glances the edge of the bat. By analysing sound waveforms captured by sensitive microphones, Snicko provides evidence of whether a batsman edged a delivery.
How Snickometer Works
Snickometer uses a highly sensitive microphone positioned near the stumps to capture all sounds during a delivery, displaying these as a waveform on screen. When a ball hits the bat, it produces a distinctive sharp spike in the waveform, which trained operators can identify and time-synchronise with the ball's position on video replay.
Ultra Edge vs Original Snicko
Ultra Edge is an advanced version of the original Snickometer developed by Hawk-Eye Innovations, providing higher resolution audio capture and better synchronisation with video frames. Ultra Edge is the version now used in most international cricket broadcasts and DRS reviews, having largely replaced the original Snickometer system.
How Snicko Is Used in DRS
During a DRS review for a caught-behind or LBW decision, the third umpire examines the Ultra Edge waveform synchronised with video of the ball's path. A spike in the waveform at the moment the ball passes the bat suggests edge contact, while a flat waveform at that moment suggests no contact and the ball hit only the pad.
Limitations and Reliability
Snicko can produce misleading results when bowlers drag their foot near the microphone, when wind or crowd noise creates interference, or when a ball hits the pad very close to the bat edge. Despite these limitations, Ultra Edge combined with HotSpot gives modern cricket umpiring one of the most sophisticated decision-support systems in sport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Snickometer and HotSpot?
Snickometer analyses audio waveforms to detect the sound of the ball hitting the bat, while HotSpot uses infrared imaging to detect the heat created by friction at the contact point. Both aim to determine edge contact, but through completely different technological methods, and using both together provides more reliable evidence.
Is Ultra Edge the same as Snickometer?
Ultra Edge is an advanced successor to the original Snickometer, developed by Hawk-Eye Innovations for use in DRS reviews. Ultra Edge provides higher resolution audio capture, better video synchronisation, and clearer waveform display than the original Snicko, and has largely replaced the original system in international cricket.