Like many cricket lovers, I once dreamt of making it big in the sport, believing I had the talent to do so. Life took a different turn, but my passion for cricket remained strong. Local club cricket in the UK became my outlet, evolving from weekend fun into competitive matches after a few standout performances.
The true inspiration behind StumpEye, however, came in 2022 through coaching my 8-year-old son, a budding cricketer. I earned coaching qualifications and began using video analysis to help him improve. While video proved useful, I noticed that whenever my son knew he was being filmed, his performance changed. It wasn’t just him—many young players in my coaching sessions felt the pressure of the camera, which hindered their natural play. I could have taken the easier route by attaching a camera to his helmet or the umpire’s hat during matches, but these options had limitations. The footage would often shift as the player or umpire moved, missing out on the most critical details happening on the pitch. Many products designed to replicate systems like DRS suffer from the same problem.
Frustration in a club match also contributed to StumpEye’s creation. In a close game against rivals, biased umpiring led to decisions that cost us the match—wides were called when they weren’t, LBWs were ignored, and a wicket fell only to be reversed by a no-ball call. With no neutral umpiring or replay tools available, we had no way to contest these calls. This lack of fair officiating tools fueled my determination to create something better.
Additionally, I began analyzing our own matches by filming the opposition and my team. While the footage was helpful, it lacked clarity and detail. The need for better match analysis tools became clear, especially when so many products in the market focused on training through data analysis. These systems often require a camera or app placed on a tripod behind the umpire to capture angles and trajectories. While useful for training, they lack the ability to provide real-time insights during actual matches.
StumpEye, however, stands apart. It captures the most critical moments right on the pitch, offering the same data analysis during live matches that other systems only provide during training. This capability makes it a unique and powerful tool for players, coaches, and officials alike. We are incredibly proud of how far StumpEye has come since its inception, driven by these motivations. It’s been a long journey, but one that has resulted in a truly innovative solution to the challenges I encountered both as a coach and player.
