The much-awaited rescheduled final Test of the India-England Test match series will start tomorrow(1st July). So English broadcaster Sky sports is looking to introduce a new angle in the coverage. They will install a camera on Ollie Pope’s helmet while he fields at short leg. Interestingly, such an innovation will be the first time in Test cricket. The ICC and ECB have both approved the new launch.
Sky hopes it will “give viewers a unique view of the action out in the middle”. The camera will not pick up noise so there are no concerns over what players say to each other. So the stump mic will be the sole audio source, although it is faded up and down at different moments.
Sky tried a similar innovation in the first edition of The Hundred last year when Trent Rockets’ Tom Moores wore a camera while keeping wicket. This resulted in some superb shots as he took a top-edged catch.
Athletic Pope gets an added responsibility
“It is intended at giving the viewers a unique perspective from the middle of a Test match,”
ROBIN REEVE, THE SENIOR PRODUCER OF SKY SPORTS, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY CRICBUZZ.
“Ollie Pope has tried it and is happy to have the camera on his helmet,”
ADDED REEVE.
Pope is an outstanding fielder close to the bat. He took a superb catch at short leg in the third Test against New Zealand last week. The catch sent off Devon Conway, of the bowling of Joe Root. With Ben Stokes attacking and showing trust in Jack Leach, more overs of spin and hence more of Pope at short leg are expected in the Test match.
