Is it Time to Combine Experience and Youth in Cricket Scouting?

One of the most underappreciated jobs in cricket is talent scouting. Finding a hidden ability is similar to planting a tree in many ways. Age-group cricket or domestic cricket are where the seeds are planted. At this point, the scout works with the coach to water the plant (read: player) and aid in the gradual outgrowth of the branches and leaves.

Before the plant is prepared to take on more tasks, they care for it together.

What makes a scout excellent is a frequent question. In more concrete terms, what factors do the different clubs from the IPL, WPL, or any other T20 tournaments consider when hiring a scout.

As more and more T20 competitions emerge, the scouting profession keeps growing. It is hard for the coach and support staff to be everywhere at once to identify and discover new potential. A scout would be useful in this situation.

watching age-group competitions, following domestic T20 leagues, keeping an eye on top-notch club competitions, and then bringing in the promising players to their setup where they go through trials, match simulations, and target-based net sessions to see if they are ready for the major league.

It is difficult to describe, according to coaches or scouts affiliated with the teams, since each franchise will have its own procedure and needs, and it much relies on the kind of job description they provide. A team like the Delhi Capitals uses its academy as a feeder, the Mumbai Indians have a very complete setup where even John Wright has been seen watching local matches, and Royal Challengers Bangalore has a slightly different strategy and has recently entered the “Hinterland Scouting” market.

The goal of finding and developing players for the future is the same regardless of the method.

Despite many methods and tactics, there are basic prerequisites that a potential scout must have. The main criteria include observations, an interest in the player’s personality, network, knowledge of the game, and a few more.

But is it possible for a young professional looking to get into the cricketing elite to become a scout?

“‘It depends’ is the phrase for everything when you speak about young scouts and that kind of thing. Because of their reputation and expertise, the scouts command respect. What is the beginning point for a young person under the age of 30 in any profession? Did he begin scouting at the age of 18, 23, or 24? What precisely did he contribute over the following five to six years with his regular analysis of players and experience? claims one of the top scouts in the industry, Monty Desai.

Desai, who is now Nepal’s head coach, formerly served as a scout for the Gujarat Lions and the Rajasthan Royals, and he claims of having made a number of noteworthy discoveries at that time, including Basil Thampi for the Gujarat Lions and Pravin Tambe for the Royals.

Nisarg Naik, who was connected to a couple WPL teams during the league’s first season in 2023, discusses why young people need to be included in the system.

“Young scouts may provide fresh insight. The second factor is nurture. For instance, a fresher has a chance in a business atmosphere. The way the business operates is that newcomers collaborate with more seasoned workers. There are no such prospects in terms of scouting, Naik tells CricketNext.

“A young scout will always be tasked with finding a young player in the same age group if he is chosen. The advantage of this is that a young athlete will feel more at ease with an older scout. There is a probability that they will get friends with one another. The athlete will be reluctant to divulge anything if they are conversing with a senior scout at the same time. Additionally, the franchise will benefit from being able to see it as a long-term investment, he continues.

In the words of a former Indian cricketer who is also a coach for a WPL team, “For scouting there is no age bar otherwise RCB wouldn’t have Vanitha VR last season (in 2023).”

Naik, who has previously played net bowling for an IPL club, said that professional cricket experience at a particular level is not required to work in scouting. “I am aware of a scout who was not a cricket professional. He only participated in the Kanga League. Even having played cricket at the state level should be enough, he argued.

Desai agreed and supported it by citing his personal experience as proof that playing cricket professionally is not required.

“Every prospective cricketer aspires to play for his country and represent his state. But not everyone is given the chance. It doesn’t always follow that he didn’t play. Even if he hasn’t played, the first step in becoming a scout is understanding the distinction between a decent player and a great one.

“A clear illustration of that is myself. I never competed at the top level, and I never represented Mumbai or the state at any age level. But most likely was aware of the game’s mechanics,” adds Desai.

Another intriguing case in point is AR Srikkanth, who quit his position as HR manager at a software business to work as a scout and analyst with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite several instances of scouts who were not professional cricketers, the IPL clubs still favor having them. The Mumbai Indians’ scouting staff, which includes people like Parthiv Patel, is the best example.

The WPL coach said that “the majority of other franchise scouts are professional cricketers, but again, it’s not important.”

Desai asserts that scouting still has a place in the current world despite the data and research at their disposal and outlined the essential components that organizations and franchises consider before employing a person.

“A scout’s most crucial tool is observation. Following that, it goes without saying, is the scout’s natural interest about the player’s personality, past, and life path as well as his or her true motivations. When you have all the information, you may recommend a player to the higher ups.

“The information will surface, but it will also provide you some insight. the data is filtered by fascinating questions you ask yourself, and you then compare the results with your judgment.

The trial-and-error approach is one of the simplest of all the factors that determines how effective you are as a scout. Because success requires experimentation. When you first begin scouting, you don’t have typical equations, Desai said.

Desai also emphasized the need of understanding the culture of a team. While a player may be brilliant, it is as crucial for him to fit into the needs and ethos of the club.

“It also comes down to the scout comprehending what the team needs. determining if the athlete is a good fit. And whether the player’s personality can mesh with the team’s culture. You may discuss success, but what kind of team culture are you interested in? The scout must provide his or her expertise in that area as well, he added.

Naik has a similar viewpoint. “Networking is vital, as is the candidate’s network. Knowing the kind of players the franchisee needs is another crucial factor, especially in light of the squad’s weakness, the player stated.

In addition, Naik emphasizes that whereas all other cricket professions need some kind of training to apply for, there is no professional program to complete in order to qualify as a scout.

Exams are available for umpires and scorers. We must prepare for it by studying and taking the tests. Additionally, there are courses for data analysts, physiotherapists, and strength and conditioning coaches. However, there is nothing to learn and no scouting course. How does one go forward in this area? It would be really helpful if there are any classes that may assist one learn more, he remarked.

There is currently no training to develop scouts, according to the WPL coach. Although I’m unsure, official hiring processes may exist. But the concept is intriguing.

Desai was thrilled with the concept of having official scouting classes.

It’s a provocative and intriguing question. Perhaps developing a course along those lines might draw out many of these instances from various scouts, allowing them to share their experiences and provide the young, aspiring scouts with new perspectives. There may be a mixture of scouts from various sports industries. I believe that these formal training programs for scouts could contribute to the formation of strong relationships between scouts and development coaches.

Desai went on to discuss the importance of attending the games and maintaining excellent observational skills.

“You may observe a player’s body language. If he is a live wire in the ground, you could be looking at an X-factor in the fielding. He increases the possibility of a run out but not the certainty of one. When evaluating a batter, you could consider how well he runs between the wickets or the pockets he hits. All of these things take time to learn and cannot be accomplished immediately.

“A young person wanting to join the scouts for the first time will be naive. You need some instruction from experienced people or instructors, as well as a little amount of knowledge.

Naik agrees with the ideas. “In my opinion, a good scout is someone who regularly attends games and keeps an eye on the players while they compete. He will learn more about the player’s temperament and decision-making thanks to it.

“No one thinks about young people for this position. Naik made a plea for prospective scouts, saying “But I believe having newcomers work alongside veteran scouts would be a dynamic combination.