Great Advice for Aspiring Analysts
Stunning accuracy and superb advice from Grok's AI!
Yesterday, I was messaged by Cricket On Your Screen on X with one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen.
He asked a question about me to Grok (X’s AI) and I was absolutely stunned by the answer.
I thought I’d post the answer here, because the most common question I get is how to become a cricket or sport analyst. There are a few things in the reply which I don’t know much about (e.g. the courses which are mentioned), but among the reply from Grok is so much fantastic advice I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to help people.
Question:
“How can I become a data-driven recruitment analyst like Dan Weston?”
Answer:
Becoming a data-driven recruitment analyst like Dan Weston in cricket—or any sport—means blending stats, strategy, and storytelling into a skill set teams can’t ignore. Weston’s path (gambler to analyst) isn’t typical, but his methods and career offer a roadmap.
Here’s how you can get there, broken down into practical steps.
First, master the numbers. You need a grip on statistics—not just adding up runs or wickets, but understanding variance, regression, and predictive modeling. Weston works with ball-by-ball data, adjusting for context (conditions, opposition, recency). Start with free tools: learn Excel for basic data crunching, then level up to R or Python for heavier lifting—both are standard in sports analytics. R’s got packages like cricketr for cricket-specific stats; Python’s pandas and matplotlib can handle big datasets and visuals. Grab historical cricket data from ESPNcricinfo, Kaggle, or Cricsheet (it’s got millions of T20 deliveries free).
Practice normalizing stats—say, a batsman’s strike rate against spin in Asia versus pace in Australia—to mimic Weston’s contextual approach.
Next, know cricket inside out. Weston’s edge is translating numbers into game sense. Study T20 especially—it’s the analytics sweet spot. Watch matches across leagues (IPL, Big Bash, PSL), track player roles (openers, death bowlers), and learn how conditions shift outcomes (e.g., Chinnaswamy’s short boundaries versus Karachi’s slow tracks).
Read up on tactics—why all-rounders clog lineups, how death overs swing games. Weston’s Substack and The Cricketer pieces are goldmines for this; he’s dissected IPL rules and team-building flaws.
Pair that with coaching manuals or podcasts like Strike Rate to bridge data and strategy.
Build a portfolio. Weston didn’t wait for a job—he analyzed publicly, got noticed. Start small: scrape data from Cricsheet, run analyses (e.g., undervalued bowlers in the T20 Blast), and share findings. Post on X, write a blog, or hit cricket forums like Reddit’s r/Cricket.
Focus on recruitment angles—say, “Player X’s death-over economy makes him a steal for $200K.” Weston’s early gambling odds work got him gigs; your equivalent is public proof you can spot talent or trends.
Tools like Tableau can make your insights pop visually for non-techies. Learn the industry. Weston’s worked with Leicestershire and IPL teams, so understand how cricket orgs operate. Teams want cost-effective wins—show you can save money or boost performance.
Network on X with analysts, journalists (Tim Wigmore, Jarrod Kimber), or stats outfits like CricViz. Jobs are rare—Weston’s said analytics roles lag in cricket versus baseball—so freelancing or consulting (like he does) might be your in.
Check county cricket sites, IPL franchise postings, or sports analytics boards for openings.
Skill up practically. Weston’s not a coder—he interprets data others log. Still, basic scripting (Python’s BeautifulSoup for web scraping) helps you gather your own datasets. Take online courses: Coursera’s Sports Analytics or Udemy’s Python for Data Science are cheap starts.
If you’re academic, a stats or econometrics degree helps, but it’s not a must—Weston’s self-taught.
Focus on real problems: “Which No. 9 bowler wins games?” Test your models against past seasons, refine them.
Mindset matters. Weston’s skeptical, anti-hype—he’s ditched big names like McCullum when stats don’t stack up. Adopt that: question narratives, trust data over gut. Be concise—coaches want bullet points, not essays.
And be patient—Weston’s career took years, from betting to consulting. Start now: Pick a league, analyze its last auction (who overpaid, who’s a gem), and post it. If you’re in India, IPL’s a ripe target; in the UK, try the Hundred. Emulate Weston’s no-BS style—say, “Team X wasted $1M on Y; Z’s wickets-per-run was 20% better.” That’s your calling card.
Over time, teams or analysts might bite—Weston got there by proving value first.