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.