AI Takes a Swing at Cricket 🏏

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It appears that the esteemed game of cricket has finally succumbed to the charms of Artificial Intelligence, and I must say, it’s about time. At the recent AWS AI Conclave 2025, the inimitable Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s ace spin bowler, regaled the audience with tales of AI’s importance in the sport. And, I might add, he made a dashed good case for it.

During a fireside chat with the erudite Harsha Bhogle, Ashwin opined that cricketers who fail to harness the power of AI and data analytics may find themselves relegated to the pavilion, their careers cut short by their own ineptitude. Bhogle, that sage commentator, nodded in agreement, pointing out that the metrics used to evaluate batters have evolved significantly over the years.

“Why, in my day,” Bhogle exclaimed, “we measured batters by runs and minutes, ignoring the number of balls faced altogether. The concept of strike rate was but a distant dream. But now, we analyze everything: wagon wheels, beehives, swing percentages, and even predictive models. It’s a veritable treasure trove of data, I assure you!” He went on to explain how AI tools can provide real-time insights, such as identifying the maximum swing generated by a bowler during the first half-hour of a Test match. Spiffing stuff, if you ask me.

Ashwin, that wily spin bowler, added that in modern cricket, players and coaches are inundated with data, but not all of it is actionable. He jokingly expressed his gratitude to Cricket Australia for uploading match highlights to their YouTube channel, which he uses to analyze how batsmen score runs. Bhogle, with a twinkle in his eye, asked Ashwin, “How many terabytes of RAM do you have inside that clever head of yours?” to which Ashwin replied, with a grin, “My mind is AI, old chap.”

According to reports, the inimitable Jonty Rhodes, a retired South African player and legendary fielder, noted that data analytics plays a crucial role in making on-field decisions today. He cited the example of Virat Kohli, who often finds himself facing a left-arm bowler, as statistics show he tends to get out to left-arm spinners. Ah, the joys of data-driven decision-making!

Bhogle, that master of the anecdote, brought up another fascinating example regarding shot percentages. “If Jasprit Bumrah and another bowler produce a similar percentage of false shots, why is Bumrah taking more wickets?” he asked. “That’s where AI can help us discover deeper insights, old bean.” Ashwin acknowledged the importance of such models but reiterated the value of human intuition too. “Cricket is played as much in the mind as it is on the field,” he said. “If a player like MS Dhoni knows what you’re planning, he will adapt and outthink you. Data may inform you, but it is your instinct that wins battles.”

But, as cricket increasingly embraces AI and analytics, the challenge is to balance technology with the human element. Ashwin and Bhogle both emphasized the importance of cricket remaining a player-centric sport, with AI data serving as a supporting tool. And, in the end, Ashwin stated, “Ultimately, the game is about players and their ability to adapt, innovate, and perform under pressure.” Well, I couldn’t agree more, old chap.

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2025-01-26 12:21