Windies to introduce new ‘data-driven scouting system’ that will help them identify and improve domestic talent.
Windies hope to benefit from what CWI has called a “groundbreaking, data-driven scouting system aimed at identifying and developing the best cricketing talent across the region”.
A network of scouts, territorial talent identifiers, and senior talent managers would work together “to provide a structured, analytical approach to talent identification” through the system. The scouting team will make sure that every performance is monitored, evaluated, and reported throughout the West Indies Championship, which will be their first significant assignment. This will provide a clear path for up-and-coming cricket players to advance to the top levels.
The squad of six territorial talent identifiers, led by former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, is in charge of Guyana. Henderson Broomes (Barbados), Delroy Morgan (Jamaica), Samuel Spencer (Leeward Islands), Gibran Mohammed (Trinidad & Tobago), and Craig Emmanuel (Windward Islands) are in attendance. They would be “managing senior player data, collaborating with analysts, and assisting in selection decisions” along with four regional scouts. The senior talent managers are Ann Browne-John (women’s cricket) and Jamal Smith (men’s cricket).
“We are moving beyond just relying on what we see on scorecards. This system ensures that performances are seen with context and with a focus on the skill sets displayed, tactical acumen and game awareness,” CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said. “We are collecting real-time data, analysing performances consistently, and making informed decisions about player development.”
“Players in the region will now be seen and evaluated by multiple talent identification operatives resulting in more information gathering, and better-balanced data on performances,” Bascombe said. “With this accountability metric in place, our network of scouts ensures that no talent goes unnoticed.
“We are moving into a new era of role-based, data-driven selection that will have ripple effects across our cricket system from the way players prepare to the way we measure performances. In addition, it allows us to examine deficits in players and to optimise through our high-performance framework. However, I would like to reiterate that data-driven does not only quate to stats-based, huge emphasis will be placed on qualitative data. Beyond selection, this data will be used to refine player programming ensuring a targeted approach to getting players international-ready.”