Breaking Down the Cost of LED Stumps: A Peek into Cricket’s High-Tech Wickets”
In the realm of modern cricket, the significance of traditional wooden stumps and bails has waned, relegated to the sidelines by their high-tech counterparts – LED Stumps. These innovative wickets, equipped with touch-sensitive technology, illuminate upon any contact, aiding umpires in making crucial decisions.
The era of players clutching a prized stump as a memento of victory has waned, replaced by LED Stumps that are off-limits for souvenir hunters. But why this shift from tradition to technology?
The answer is straightforward: LED Stumps revolutionize the game. They respond to touch and blink when the bails are dislodged, providing invaluable assistance to umpires and third umpires in determining close calls, especially in stumping and run-out situations.
These LED Stumps, a product of Eckermann, made their debut in the cricketing world during the 2013 Big Bash in Australia. Their success led to their introduction on the international stage, showcased at the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The overwhelming positive response paved the way for their widespread adoption.
However, innovation comes at a price – a substantial one. The LED Stumps themselves cost approximately $40,000 (around 24 lakh INR), with the bails adding an additional 50,000 INR. To put it into perspective, a complete set of LED stumps for a single match amounts to roughly 50 Lakh INR. Considering the number of matches in a series or tournament, the expenses accumulate rapidly. Hence, players are unequivocally discouraged from appropriating these pricey wickets as souvenirs.
Beyond the cost factor, the stumps’ inventor, Eckermann, has concerns about their durability. In the modern game, where fearsome fast bowlers consistently deliver toe-crushing yorkers at speeds exceeding 150 kmph, there’s a lurking worry that the stumps might not withstand the impact. While instances of stumps shattering mid-game are rare, Eckermann hopes they remain infrequent.
The lifespan of LED stumps and bails is approximately five years, contingent on usage and maintenance.
