Ultra Edge Technology in Cricket Explained
What Ultra Edge is in cricket, how it works to detect bat-pad contacts, and how it is used within the DRS review system.
What Is Ultra Edge?
Ultra Edge (also called the snickometer in its earlier form) is a technology used in cricket's Decision Review System (DRS) to detect whether the ball has made contact with the bat or pad. It works by recording the audio signal from a microphone mounted near the stumps, synchronised with video footage. Any contact between ball and bat or pad produces a distinctive spike in the audio waveform that can be identified by reviewers and third umpires.
How Ultra Edge Works
A high-sensitivity microphone captures every sound near the crease as the ball is delivered. The audio is displayed as a waveform. When reviewed at ultra-slow speed alongside video footage, reviewers look for a spike in the waveform that coincides precisely with the moment the ball passes the bat. A spike at the exact frame where ball and bat are adjacent — and no other point of contact — strongly indicates an edge. The absence of a spike suggests the ball missed the bat.
When Ultra Edge Is Used
- Caught behind reviews — batter challenges a caught-behind dismissal, claiming no edge
- LBW reviews — when checking if the ball hit the bat before the pad (front-pad edge negates LBW)
- Disputed catches — to confirm the ball carried to the fielder without hitting the ground first
- Stumping reviews — to confirm the ball hit the bat or pad rather than going directly to the keeper
Limitations of Ultra Edge
Ultra Edge is highly reliable but not infallible. Very faint edges can be hard to detect in loud stadiums where crowd noise interferes with the audio. Conversely, spikes can be caused by the bat grounding, clothing rustle, or foot movement near the crease. Third umpires must weigh the audio evidence alongside the video to make a final decision, which is why 'Umpire's Call' exists in DRS as a catch-all for genuinely marginal decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ultra Edge and the Snickometer?
The Snickometer was the original technology, developed in the 1990s, which showed a simpler waveform alongside slow-motion video. Ultra Edge is a more refined version providing better synchronisation of high-quality audio with ultra-slow-motion footage, making edge detection more reliable.
Can Ultra Edge detect a thin edge from a spinning ball?
Yes — Ultra Edge can detect very thin edges that are invisible to the naked eye and inaudible in real time. Even a grazing contact where the ball barely clips the bat face will produce a measurable spike in the waveform, which is one of the key reasons DRS has overturned so many caught-behind dismissals.