ESPN announced the launch of the world's most advanced scoring and analysis graphical system, NAMADGI with the ICC Knockout tournament beginning October 3. The Namadgi system named after a hillock near Canberra, Australia was created over an 18 month period by a team of software developers headed by Steven Hodgeman and Donavan Edge and ESPN 's producer Joy Bhattacharya. The analysis system can provide 260 charts of the live day's play, based on 11 parameters each from bowling, batting and fielding. For instance, the bowling data will be compiled including where the ball was, what it did off the air, the bounce of the ball, and what it did off the pitch. The qualitative analysis will emanate based on the weightage factor, which team plays who, and whether the matches are played at home, on neutral ground or away from home.
Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESPN Software Ltd. said that the Namadgi was a fourth generation system, having successfully passed through testing score cards, ball by ball, with two or three variables, and now with 11 variables for batting, bowling and fielding. The analysis system will be integrated with the Cricket Ratings system in partnership with Samsung India. The live ball by ball analysis will be framed over an 18 month period, and include data from all International cricket matches played by teams telecast on ESPN, Star Sports and other channels. "The Namadgi scoring and graphical system will raise the bar in cricket analysis by offering players, commentators and viewers a tremendous opportunity, "Sawhney pointed out." For us, it will offer various avenues for clients to be associated with." Added well known commentator Harsha Bhogle, "the Namadgi data will help commentators frame a complete picture of the match."
ESPN will include an interactive element at the ICC Tournament as well. Viewers can ask questions to expert commentators on the game situation, player performance, team strategy or forecast via live phone-ins. ESPN producer Bhatacharya said that the data and analysis will be available on the Internet at www.espnstarsports.com for consumer and corporate use.
