Toyota confirm finalists of make #BetterCricket competition

Toyota, England Cricket's Official Car Partner, have revealed the three finalists of their competition which saw them invite cricket fans to come up with ideas to make the game better.

After receiving numerous submissions, an independent panel has whittled them down to three final ideas which will now be put to a public vote - a touch-sensitive boundary marker, GPS tracking on each player linked to an app and an electronic coaching system for net practice.

"Our Future of Cricket campaign has produced some fantastic suggestions on how the game could be made more interesting, engaging and rewarding for players and fans alike," Toyota spokesman Stuart Sanders said.

"Our three finalists all make clever use of technology to help add excitement, improve insight and develop playing skills.

"Now we need people to let us know which one they think would have the best impact on the game," he added.

You can view the proposals and vote at www.toyota.com/bettercricket and voting will be open until 31st August - all entrants will go into a prize draw with tickets to see the fifth England v Pakistan One-Day International on 4th September available to the winner.

The person whose idea is voted the best will also win tickets to the same match as well as a cricket bat signed by the England team and the chance to meet an England squad member, while their idea could be turned into reality as Toyota and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will explore the proposal*.

Business entrepeneur Elizabeth Geldart, from Harrogate, Yorkshire, has submitted the idea of touch-sensitive boundary lights which flash when the boundary is touched by either the ball or a fielder - making it easy to determine whether a boundary has been scored or not.

"This might help the umpire decide if a four has been scored, or at least would provide colour and entertainment for the crowd," she said.

Teacher Simon Shoebridge from Sevenoaks has come up with the idea of using satellite technology to track every player on the field to provide more statistical analysis than is currently available.

"Fitting a small tracker in each player’s clothing would transmit their location to scorers, broadcasters and match control.

"This would allow supporters, commentators, scorers and others to quickly and accurately detect who is on strike, who is bowling, who has taken a catch and so on," he explained.

Keen cricketer and Loughborough University student Matt Eastgate, from Cambridge, would like to see cricketers get more out of net practice through his idea.

"Floor lighting can display target areas in which to pitch the ball and show the appropriate line to bowl on, similar to the landing lights on a runway," he said.

"Sensors in the net could also display the bowling speed."

He would also like to see sensor used to calculate how far the ball would travel off the bat and set a virtual field for the batsmen.

"If they hit a ball to a spot where there is no field, they can score runs and compete with other batsmen using the net," he adds.

*Competition terms and conditions apply; full details are available at Toyota.co.uk/bettercricket

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