Annoyance, scapegoat, or transmitter of amazing sporting pictures? Spidercam "has been described as all of those things after Australian captain Steve Smith was distracted by a wire supporting Channel Nine's aerial camera before dropping a straightforward catch during the Sydney Test," according to Chloe Saltau of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD.
Coach Darren Lehmann said that Spidercam "was in the wrong spot when Smith dropped the catch but believes it provides great entertainment for cricket viewers." He wants it "moved out of players' field of vision when the ball is bowled and declared this would happen through discussions with Nine and Cricket Australia." Spidercam "is one of Nine's most valued technological tools, sweeping above huddles and wicket celebrations to provide viewers with unrivalled angles, suspended by a web of cables." Nine Head of Sports Steve Crawley "immediately sent his engineers to investigate and established the ball had not hit either the camera or the wire." The wires "are covered in mesh so they don't glint in the sun." Nine and CA said in a joint statement, "If any player has a concern about the placement of Spidercam they can ask the umpires for it to be moved" (SMH, 1/8).
