Statistics, technology and the modern game

The controversial ‘Hotspot’ technology

The modern game thrives on technology, statistics and its analysis. The team meetings don’t just include pep talks any more. Strategies and plans are contrived on how to tackle a mystery bowler and how to suppress an onslaught from an unorthodox and aggressive batsman. Statistical analysis plays a major role in drawing up rewarding plans.

Statistics in cricket have come a long way in the past few decades. There was a time when the dot balls faced by a batsman weren’t recorded in a few innings. This made it impossible to calculate strike rates and other important figures due to the unavailability of data.

In this day and age, everything goes into the logbooks.

The statistics exhibited in the World T20 brought about a whole new perspective to the game and its analysis. They revealed a batsman’s strong zones, weak zones, percentage of balls beaten, most productive strokes, how they fared against spin and pace, etc. Statistics such as the percentage of doosras or carrom balls bowled, how frequently a bowler induced an edge or a false stroke, etc., were also there for the viewer to see. There was nothing about a player’s game that couldn’t be interpreted from these figures.

Enhanced statistics like the WASP (Winning and Score Predictor) have been introduced lately, which give the viewers a better idea of how the game is poised. It predicts the score in the first innings and the percentage of victory in the second. Earlier, we only had the projected score, which wasn’t very efficient. It’s most important drawback being that it took only one criterion into account: the current run rate.

The WASP, however, employs various criteria in its calculation including the run rate, the performance of the players, their past records, wickets in hand, the pitch conditions and the quality of the bowling team. Hence, the WASP presents an adequate analysis of the match situation to the viewer.

Apart from giving the viewers an insight into the aspects of the game, statistics and technology also help teams and their captains devise improved plans for their opponents.

For example, a datum that affirms the strike rates of a batsman during the various stages of an innings will undoubtedly assist a captain in setting a field for that particular player. If it is evident that a player is not aggressive in the middle overs, the captain can then afford to set a slightly more attacking field as opposed to being defensive. Also, an analysis of bowlers’ performances in the various stages of a match will help a captain choose which bowlers to open with, use in the middle overs and at the death.

The DRS has negated bad decisions

Technology, too, has improved immensely over the years. An upgraded and more accurate DRS has been introduced. Sure, there have been a couple of instances where, in spite of the presence of DRS, incorrect calls were made. The number of matches that have swayed the other way due to bad umpiring decisions have drastically reduced, though.

The technology used in training is unbelievable. Today, training experts use technology to measure the distance covered by the players and also the areas of the body that are under most stress. This can help reduce injuries to the players.

Video analysis ahead of the game is inevitable today. The game of every opposition player is analysed to make game plans. This will divulge information about the bowlers and will definitely give the batsman an idea of what to expect. This has led to the emanation of various counter-attacking shots like the reverse sweep, the scoop and the helicopter. There is also a flip side. If a bowler is able to cognize a batsman’s most productive shots, he will know better than to bowl there. He will try to negate those shots and take them out of play. This makes the duel between the bat and the ball all the more exciting.

In the modern game, statistics and technology are of vital importance to both the viewer and the player. The modern cricketer will thank his lucky stars for the availability of such technology and statistics, while the cricketers of the past will lament the unavailability back in their day.