Moneyball

The best-selling book and subsequent Hollywood film ‘Moneyball’ is based around the tactics of the Oakland A’s Baseball team. They changed their outlook on player recruitment, moving away from tradition scouting methods based on appearance, and looking more at statistical analysis and how certain players can fill specific roles within a team.

We can already see these changes happening within cricket. Northamptonshire Chief Executive David Smith and Coach David Ripley had a tiny budget to work with, but managed to win this year’s T20 by making solid signings of previously under-appreciated players, and bringing in some relatively cheap overseas talents that might not bring in the crowds, but did put in performances.

 James Middlebrook and Matt Spriegel had both been released from big counties, but formed the vital spin attack that bowled economically in the middle overs to squeeze opposition. Kyle Coetzer was released from Durham, but opened the batting for Northants and in a similar vein to Jonathan Trott for Warwickshire, batted through the innings and provided the platform for the hitters later on. Steven Crook was also released from Middlesex, but bowled with pace and offered explosive lower-order batting.  The previously unknown Azharullah was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, bowling reverse swinging yorkers in the final overs. And Cameron White and Richard Levi, two proven t20 players but not necessarily marquee signings, scored six fifties and a hundred between them. All of this alongside local talents like David Willey and Alex Wakely took Northants to the title, beating the likes of Surrey, Essex and Somerset along the way.

What this tells us is that cricket is not all about appearances, regardless of what our current system may dictate. Richard Levi wouldn’t get a sniff at a contract if he were a young pro today yet has scored the fastest international t20 hundred. Samit Patel has been left out of the England ODI set up because of his weight, despite averaging over 50 in List A with the bat this year.  And James Taylor (First Class average of 56.20 this year) is seemingly not in the Test side due to his shorter stature and unorthodox technique, compared to the preferred Johnny Bairstow who ‘looks the part’.

It is time that English cricket adapted. Just because a player is released doesn’t mean he’s useless, and just because they look the part doesn’t mean they are. In-depth selection is needed if we are to move forward, and should go further than what county a player is at, or how they compare in a photograph. 

Ireland.

If international cricket were a village club, Ireland would be the young, second team medium pacer. Not yet developed enough to warrant a elevation, or as talented as those currently in the higher tier, Ireland has a lot to learn and is trying hard. Not as old or as established as the cocky first-teamers, they are making waves with some notable performances, demanding attention. Their neighbours England will give them the occasional net as a nice gesture, albeit begrudgingly and with no real thought towards their long-term promotion. But in the big games they are doing what any medium pacer must do - they are asking questions.

Ireland's humble beginnings are well and truly a thing of the past. Today's game in a fairly impressive Malahide stadium proved the quality of some of it's individuals (not least the two Irish players in the England side) and may have made the ICC sit up and pay attention. Players like James Taylor and Luke Wright have dominated county cricket this year with averages of 77.57 and 62.75, but were made to look out of their depth on a slightly slow track (but one that produced nearly 550 runs in the day). Indeed James Taylor looked like he was making up his technique on the spot, with 39 year-old Trent Johnston squaring him up so many time he might as well batted front-on. Surely the team they put out today would give the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and maybe even the West Indies a good contest?

However there are still many roadblocks in the path to Test status. One such block is their lack of a first-class system in Ireland. This is a must before they are eligible for test status, but it also means they will continually lose players to the England set-up. Many critics bemoan the fact that England 'cherry pick' the best of Irish talent, but who can begrudge them or indeed the players for trying to play as high as they can. County cricket also allows the develop of players, helping them succeed at international level - how good would the likes of Ed Joyce and Niall O'Brien be if they were confined to hometown club cricket? It's precisely why a first class system needs putting in place - to mould future players into true international stars.

Another problem is their global attractiveness. Countries with lower GDP levels such as Sri Lanka struggle to sell out test matches against England - how likely is it that locals who won't pay to watch the likes of Pietersen and Bell, will part with their hard earned cash to watch Paul Mooney bowl some tight lines at 70mph, or will queue up to see William Porterfield score a backs-to-the-wall 50? Not very.

The steps Cricket Ireland are taking are undoubtedly in the right direction. It just needs to keep focusing on developing grass roots cricket in order to have local popularity and ultimately professional status. It also needs to keep increasing the Ireland brand all over the world - the likes of Kevin O'Brien playing in the West Indies Premier League being a good start.

But like all club medium pacers, if it keeps improving and churning out results, it will be hard for the first team to ignore them.