World Cup 2019: Indian selectors were presented with data analytics before squad selection

When the Indian selectors sat down to pick the squad for World Cup 2019 on April 15, it wasn’t just based on the regular stats and recent form that they were looking at but there was a lot more data, diversified and analyzed at their disposal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a presentation in place for the five-member selection panel and they had a look at it a day prior to the final meeting.

Reportedly, it was a three and a half hour presentation which gave them a perspective from a data analytics point of view on how the players are expected to fare in a particular scenario also keeping into account the English conditions. This is the first time that the board made use of data in this sort of a manner. The usual norm followed was that the selectors be handed statistics and figures of the player and the rest of it is left up to them and their understanding of it.

SWOT analysis

As per reports, it was the Indian cricket team’s designated data analyst CKM Dhananjay who had the responsibility of crunching the data together. It was presented in the form of a SWOT analysis (Strength Weakness Opportunities Threat) for all the probable players.

“This time, it was decided that there would be a tweak in the system. On Sunday, a three and half hour presentation was provided with processed data. In fact, this could be done before every major selection meeting,” a source close to the selection committee was quoted as saying on the Quint.

The match and conditions were split up into different phases. Based on that the performance of Indian players, as well as that of the opposition, was broken down. To help the selectors make a better-informed decision in their bid to a build winning combination, information such as strategies and tactics that have worked and what hasn’t for teams who have played in England in the last one year or so were also presented to them.

“Things like how England or New Zealand have fared against our wrist spinners or how Australia has negotiated our orthodox left-arm spinners during a particular phase of play was shown to the selectors,” the source said.

They were also made aware of the opposition, the bowlers and how a particular batsman has done against them. It helped them understand whether or not that was the right choice to make considering what they would be faced with in the real match scenario.

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