Sports data analysis: The next big thing in sport

In cricket, stats about batsman’s high scoring areas, pressure-release shot, a bowler’s percentage of slower balls in a T20 match, stats on length, runs conceded against a left vs. right handed batsmen, and data about many other parameters can be collected, mined and provided to the coach by data analysts.

Combining this with sports bio mechanics to track player movements and physical characteristics such as heart rate to measure fitness and predict future performance of individual players takes sports to a completely different level. Player data can help the coach to take appropriate decisions in selection and strategies during matches.

Big question: Is science chosen over art?

This is the most frequently asked question asked by traditional coaches and former players who have played their game without the aid of such technology.

The answer is NO. Science is not here to kill the art of sport, but to complement it.

The science does not guarantee results in any case, but merely increases the chance to succeed, helping players and coaches to take well-informed decisions. It is important to know that this method of collecting and analyzing data in sports is not here to substitute a physical coach or a manager, but to complement the current coaching styles and take sport to next level.

It is most effective when instinct and detailed studied analysis are combined to take decisions.

Organizations and third parties

An example of data can be analysed and sorted

Such statistical data is used for in-depth match analysis, talent identification, scouting analysis and various other training programs. Most US-based sports franchises, European football clubs and IPL franchises in India are already making use of such analytics. Opta Sports has recently signed a contract with ICC and the Premier League as official data providers. Prozone Sports and SportsMechanics are some of the companies who provide video and data analysis services to various elite sporting clubs and organizations.

The Future

Technologists around the world predict that concepts such as big data (in simple terms: ability to collect and analyze the vast amounts of data) will be bigger than the internet and will impact everyone’s life. The most commonly-used phrase is “Data is the new oil”. It’s valuable; but if unrefined, it cannot really be used. Data needs be broken down and analyzed for it to have value. You might be intrigued to know how US retail giant Target used data analysis to know about pregnancy of their customer before her family knew it. Check it out.

All in all, interesting times ahead and it is only a matter of time before sports and data analytics becomes an intrinsic part of all sporting clubs and organizations across the world.