Information technology over the years has provided the world with new ways of analyzing data, statistics, facts, and figures in almost every facet of our lives.

Through media, computers, cell phones, and everything else that is available to us worldwide we have changed the way that we approach every day living.

The change has impacted sports in a colossal way when it comes to making critical decisions on and off of the field of play. This week let's look at cricket from a technological standpoint, weighing out the advantages and disadvantages that technology brings to the game.

Obviously as the world improved technologically, the game of cricket has had many changes with respect to how it used to be played.

The latest technological influence is the instant replay, whereby a player or an umpire has the option to refer a decision to the third umpire by using the instant replay. Is this good for the game or will it hinder the game - a debate that cricket lovers continue to argue and debate about.

One of the major disadvantages is that it can slow the game down by being over used. Another major concern is that new technology in cricket is taking too much responsibility away from the umpire. ICC is considering whether or not they should let LBW decisions be viewed through video replay to assist umpires making a decision. Also, I find in some cases coaches tend to rely on advanced technology too much.

On the flip side, the advantages of the technological world that we are in is that players can be much better prepared for game situations.

In recent times, teams have secured the services of video analysts whose sole role is to shoot footage of players at training sessions in the nets and/or game situations.

From this coaches can sit one-on-one with a player and identify his strengths and weaknesses.

Another advantage comes through the improvement of training equipment. The coaching aids that are being used these days are far more advanced, thus giving our players a better chance of performing at their optimal ability.

There are so many new advanced features for cricket that have yet to even reach Bermuda. However, the latest one we as coaches were introduced to in Bermuda is Silicon Coaching.

Silicon is software that gives the coach several options when it comes to net training and showing a player his faults.

Basically what it allows the coach to do is video a player and then pull up a screen in slow motion where the coach can actually freeze the frame, highlighting technical frailties.

Later after various footages the coach can then pull up two to four screens with the player playing the same shot stopping it at the same point and looking at the differences, if any.

Some may say that technology is not everything it is built up to be. Look back in years before when we were not so advanced in technology.

The umpires did their job to the best of their ability and players respected that. Players were taught to respect whatever decision was made and to conduct themselves as gentlemen. The game had minimal technology involved and the standard was very high, so why change?

However, in life things change supposedly for the better. As people we have a choice to stay in the eighties or move on and stay updated with the new technology. When you sit and think how many people today are afraid to even use a computer? How many people do not use a cell phone?

The reality is that we still have people stuck in the eighties mentality because it was comfortable. Some of us in life look at technology as risk and some as a challenge. As players we need not to be afraid to come outside of the box (comfort zone).

At the end of the day the world is advancing everyday for the betterment of sports and life. The choice is ours with respect to what we want to do with all of this new technology. All I am saying in brief is that, yes, technology is awesome, it can be a tool for success, but do not forget the simple things in life.