Software could help shape the hard edge

If the John Wright era was all about bringing about professionalism — in every meaning — to Indian cricket, Greg Chappell’s t...

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If the John Wright era was all about bringing about professionalism — in every meaning — to Indian cricket, Greg Chappell’s tenure could see it aspire to a new level of out-of-the-box coaching. Specifically, the use of very high-tech coaching aids.

The man in charge of that is Team India computer analyst Subramanian Ramakrishnan (Ramki), who is now is fine-tuning his programmes for his new techno-savvy boss based on an earlier conversation.

‘‘Just over a year back, I had gone down to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for a short stint with Chappell, Dennis Lillee and TA Sekhar’’, he told The Sunday Express. ‘‘There, Chappell and I had a detailed discussion on what technological advancements analysts should work on. And I gained a good idea of how he is inclined to utilising newer tools and software.’’

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Ramki, who’s worked with the national side over the past three years, has already scored with tools like Silicon Coach (software based on video analysis) and ScoreMate (software for match-analysis). His latest tool is Timewarp, which will help the team and their coach at the nets.

Timewarp has two critical elements. First, it works on a real-time basis, unlike Silicon Coach, where Wright and the players could analyse the videos only after the net sessions got over. ‘‘It requires a couple of flat-screen monitors set up at convenient positions around the nets; the players get to immediately see and analyse replays of their video-taped actions — the analysis and error-correction is that fast.’’

For example, Harbhajan Singh bowls to Sourav Ganguly at the nets. As he finishes the stroke, the skipper can look up at the screen and watch the replay. So can Bhajji as soon as he is done with the follow-through, and Chappell too.

Next, they can get together, and the coach following a brisk analysis after glancing through a second replay, points out to the two of them where they went wrong, if they did.

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The team analyst’s day out with Chappell last year hovered around another novel concept. The former Aussie captain had suggested that Ramki introduce online coaching on a global scale.

That software is ready today and is designed to eliminate the hassles of overseas tours made by players and coaches all over the world for coaching lessons.

‘‘Chappell explained that he wanted an online medium of coaching. So I developed a method by which players from anywhere in the world can get their actions video-taped with the help of a panel of specialists (using Silicon Coach).

‘‘After that, the players can then choose any coach or former great, say Viv Richards, to whom the video-taped clippings are duly emalied on request by the specialists. The coach then analyses the footage, prepares a report, including audio feedback, and emails it back, which the player gets to access on a common website. It’s that simple,’’ Ramki explains.

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If implemented, it will cut costs dramatically. ‘‘A normal trip for coaching lessons to Australia would cost an Indian more than $3,000. But doing it through the new services will cost $300.’’