Very sorry to hear of the death of the veteran Pakistan journalist Qamar Ahmed, 88, who attended 450+ Tests. He was always a friendly and encouraging press-box colleague, with a fund of stories dating from his time as a slow left-armer who bowled at all five Mohammad brothers
Great win by England with so many top performers (esp Rice, Bellingham, Madueke, Anderson.). But my MoM was Captain @HKane who was immense from start to finish, scoring goals and throwing his body around to defend shots too. What a leader! 👏👏
@suzain_noor Data should be used to help experienced and analytical cricket minds, not dominate them. Numbers matter, but context, judgement, and game understanding still make the final call.
A lot is being made of data-driven selection, but a few things are worth remembering:
Data doesn’t make decisions people do.
Statistics tell us what a player has done. Selection is about predicting what a player is likely to do next.
That’s why cricket knowledge and data analysis are not the same thing. Former players can bring experience, insight and an understanding of the game that numbers alone can’t provide. At the same time, modern analytics can add valuable context when interpreted correctly.
The danger comes when statistics are viewed without context, or when selection becomes a purely mathematical exercise.
The real challenge isn’t collecting data it’s interpreting it correctly. Two people can look at the same numbers and reach completely different conclusions depending on their understanding of roles, conditions, opposition, game situations and potential.
Data should support decision-making, not replace it.
Data is a powerful tool, but it’s still just a tool. It tells you what a player has done, not always what they’re capable of doing next. Great selection comes from combining objective performance data with talent identification, cricket judgement, and an understanding of team balance.
A successful team isn’t built on impact players alone. Coaches win tournaments by balancing match-winners with consistent performers. Sixes and wickets grab headlines, but discipline, role clarity, and execution under pressure win championships.
“Stokes has shown a lack of brains and England must suspend him.
ECB cannot allow captain to break rules without consequences simply because he is so important to the team.”
~ @GeoffreyBoycott
Happy 60th Birthday to our @wasimakramlive ! You continue to amaze me every day. Watching you grow in to the man you are today has been an incredible journey. I'm so proud of you 🙌❤️
Poor umpiring aside, the missed run-outs were equally costly and inexcusable.
West Indies won by one wicket, but the match will be remembered for its glaring errors and laughable fielding.
West Indies v Pakistan, St John’s
#OnThisDay in 2000