It's here .. the SpeakingNick .. ICC Mens T20 World Cup review of the preview's
Well, actually, this is a preview of what will be coming in the way of a complete review of the upcoming men's T20 world cup. A review of a preview, so to speak!
A general assumption to start. I feel compelled to say this: amid a field of typically flat, boring, repetitive reviews — hence the assumption — I hope to bring you something very different. That’s the intention, at least. So, hear me out, please.
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Here we go …
General commentary will likely carry a whiff of sarcasm, even some admonishment for those deserving of such treatment. Humour shouldn’t be too far from the surface; mine might be unemotional, deadpan, or ironic – blame my upbringing here. Nevertheless, it will be present.
Insightful and intuitive reasoning will be at the centre of the analysis. Teams, players, coaches, and support groups will all receive the red-pen treatment where required – I am reliant on nearly four decades of cricket observation – “please don’t fail me at this moment of need.” And finally, there will be little or no bias based on my geographical location or birthplace. Together, good times beckon. Promise.
Taking a closer look …
Analytics, statistics, game patterns, and advanced probability have all infiltrated cricket to the point of no return. The game's blissful anonymity has gone; it has been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the cloud. If cricket were to reflect, with a balanced perspective, it might conclude that its partnership with technology was inevitable. Never have the numbers been more consequential in the reading of the game. After all, cricket has always been a game of numbers. Ask Ric Finlay.
The game's shortest format, T20, offers up every conceivable angle on analytics, which is why we are here, and looking forward to the best players in the world displaying their wares. So many varied mechanisms are in play at any point in the game, and it can be as granular as one single ball that will determine the eventual result. Do you think it's possible for a coach to remember all 120 balls (assuming no extras) in a bowling or batting innings? Alternatively, for a player to recall his balls bowled, or balls batted? We will get to this later.
A sceptical scenario to ponder might read something like this:
Player A (the bowler) cannot possibly bowl at Player Z (the batter) specifically, from the southern end of the ground, in October, and during this period of play, with a ball that has been propelled that many times. Why? Because I say so (that’s the analyst speaking) – the outcome will be catastrophic to player A’s team — how catastrophic — is a reasonable question? This is, of course, not based on tuition and instinct, coaching nous, or captaincy experience; instead on an algorithmic equation that makes sense only to the author — the analyst.
I subscribe to Ricky Gervais’ thinking on math; he said, “I was good at maths until it stopped being about numbers.” I concur Ricky. Math is about numbers; and letters, well, they belong in the English class. My grasp of algebra was deplorable, much to the distress of my father!
So, what do you think? Should player A be allowed to bowl to player Z? Again harking back, many bowlers of the past were naively unaware that particular batters had an acute preference for what they offered up. Before being able to consult the playbook, their white jumper was handed back by the umpire with a consoling nod, leaving the bowler to venture far away to lick his wounds and go back to the computer screen, that wasn’t as routinely available. That’s the issue with harking back.
And the question. Well, I rudely hijacked the answer, or was there an answer? Please speak up …
And to conclude … for now
As is the modern want for complete disclosure, cricket, specifically T20 cricket, has moved quickly into the space of analytical data processing. I am a proponent both as a writer, watcher, and coach. There is no hint of scepticism here.
I hope to bring a balanced viewpoint and one looking through an alternative lens, searching for the story within the story. And, as mentioned, I intend to deliver all this with a hint of northern humour, not discounting knowledge.
Enjoying the read? If you feel like it, I’d love if you’d share this post with your friends! Or, if you received it from a friend, please forward on.
Some housekeeping …
Finally: The individual team previews will all be ‘public posts’ — so free to all subscribers. However, my coverage of the actual tournament will be for paid subscribers only. I do hope you will subscribe; I can promise you that I’m confident the content will match your commitment.
Further to this: I will be adding another subscription option closer to the start of the tournament. You will be able to try/read the coverage risk-free. For a limited time — the duration of the tournament — a seven-day free trial will be available. *Simply subscribe with a credit card, and if you change your mind, all you have to do is cancel by the end of your seven-day trial and you won’t be charged*
And for the Latin speakers amongst you …
PS (postscript or postscriptum) - Geelong CC, the team I coach in Australia, have been hosting the United Arab Emirates this past week, playing practice games. We are currently sitting at 0-2. Hopefully the UAE make it through qualifying; they have some very talented players, and are coached by India’s Robin Singh. It’s been a pleasure.
As always, thank you for being here.
