Cricket loves numbers, but ignores data
The best cricket stories of the week, 5th to 11th April 2025
1
Cricket loves numbers, but ignores data
Lines on the Grass’ Sarthak Dev talks to former Indian analyst Himanish Ganjoo about why cricket has been so slow to adopt the data revolution.
“Organised cricket is nearly 150 years old, and its awareness about data and statistics seems stuck in the grainy monochrome of 1877. Even with terrabytes of new information available every second, we are rarely ever pushed to understand the game better, beyond the fact that Virat Kohli averages 47 runs every time he bats.”
2
How cricket finally fought Apartheid
Sydney Morning Herald’s Daniel Brettig recalls how a rebel Australian tour in 1985 deepened the country’s disgust with Apartheid-era South Africa, via payoffs to stay home, Kerry Packer’s increased influence on cricket, & the Australian PM’s relationship with Clive Lloyd.
“What the tour achieved in Australia was to put the South African issue squarely on the front page for months, pushing [prime minister Bob] Hawke, his foreign minister Bill Hayden and the federal government as a whole to broaden their opposition to apartheid, while encouraging other countries to do the same.”
3
The rise of RCB
ESPNcricinfo’s Sampath Bandarupalli analyses the numbers behind RCB’s strong start with the bat this season, including their ascension to becoming the fastest hitters in the IPL.
“This aggressive batting has made RCB the best boundary-hitting team in the league - they have hit a boundary every four balls and taken 9.4 balls per six, which are the best ratios of all teams in this period. However, this risk-taking also means that RCB's batters have not always been in control. Since that defeat at the Wankhede in 2024, their control percentage stands at 70.91%, the second lowest in the league, just behind KKR's 68.08%.”
ESPNcricinfo’s Matt Roller talks to RCB’s lower order bat about his new role across franchise leagues; “Finisher Tim David is happy to be a spectator when RCB bat”
4
The best of the rest
Sportstar’s Shayan Acharya catches up with the former India and current RR coach; “Rahul Dravid interview – RR head coach on team philosophy, IPL auctions, Indian cricket and more”
Cricket.com’s Stephen Nehemiah analyses CSK’s issues this year; “Decoded: Why CSK’s 2025 IPL Campaign Is Off To a Faltering Start”
The Guardian’s Daniel Gallan reminisces about the golden era of the medium pacer; “In praise of cricket’s dibbly-dobbler: once a familiar sight, now an endangered species”
Cricverse’s Simon Hughes remembers the eccentricities that made Alan Knott England’s greatest keeper ever; “KNOTT A BAD CRICKETER!”
5
The best videos and podcasts
Sky Sports’ Mike Atherton & Nasser Hussain talk to the ECB’s Rob Key about why he picked Harry Brook as England’s white ball captain. [YouTube]
IWM’s Cyrus Broacha talks to Shashank Kishore about some of the unheralded players that made the step up via the IPL over 18 years, plus related conversations about the IPL scouting system and talent pipeline to the national team. [YouTube]
Pak Passion’s Saj Sadiq talks to former Ireland international Catherine Dalton about her groundbreaking stint as a fast bowling coach at Men’s PSL team Multan Sultans, plus the growth of Women’s cricket in Pakistan. [YouTube]
Cricket by JB’s Aswin Anil recounts the history of the Indian Women’s team under the BCCI since they were officially adopted in 2006. [YouTube]