World Cup bound Hong Kong Under-19 Cricket Team trains with 'Hawk-Eye' at HKCC's new Cricket Centre of Excellence

Members of the Hong Kong Under-19 cricket team enjoyed a special training session at the Hong Kong Cricket Club's (HKCC) brand new Cricket Centre of Excellence on Wednesday, 16 December. The team has qualified for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand from 16-30 January 2010. They fly out to New Zealand on 1st January 2010.

The Hong Kong Cricket Club opened its brand new state-of-the-art Cricket Centre of Excellence for the Under-19 team to practice before they depart for New Zealand. The HKCC's Cricket Centre of Excellence features the latest technology to assist players, coaches and umpires with cricket coaching and training. The HKCC Cricket Centre of Excellence is one of only three cricket facilities worldwide equipped with 'hawk-eye' technology. The technology features a tracking and video replay system used to measure the speed and direction of deliveries and the reaction time of batsmen.

Hawk-eye technology was recently introduced for the first time in test match cricket as part of the International Cricket Council's Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS). The technology is widely used in One Day International cricket and has been adopted by the WTA to judge line calls in all major international tennis tournaments.

About the HKCC Cricket Centre of Excellence

The HKCC Cricket Centre for Excellence encompasses three 'cricket nets' and a centre wicket for the playing of indoor cricket matches.

Two of the nets have different surface speeds (spin bowling net/medium pace) with under-floor cushioning shock-pads for the bowlers and are available for all HKCC cricket training purposes (bowling/batting/fielding), and also for 'Indoor League Cricket'. The Centre covers an area of 447m2 and is 35 meters in length with a width of 12.6 meters.

There is also a Viewing Gallery over the Cricket Centre for Excellence for other practical, fitness and social/recreational uses.