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Don't Think You Should Follow Data & Numbers Blindly In Cricket: Jos Buttler
Follow Us“Cricket is flooded with numbers, and I think there's sometimes too much of it," said the GT wicketkeeper-batter from England
Gujarat Titans (GT) wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler feels “cricket is flooded with numbers” and the players shouldn’t blindly follow everything they see. In the last few years, cricket has become a data-driven game, especially the 20-over format, with almost every team having their own analyst(s).
“I think the skill with data is actually understanding what it means, what the context is, how it can help, and what it's showing me that my cricket intuition isn't. Or, I should try and use it as another decision-making tool. I don't think you should follow it blindly,” Buttler told the Times of India.
“And, similarly, you shouldn't be resistant to it, thinking, 'I've played cricket forever, I don't need to look at data.' So, I think it's just trying to decode what it actually means. Does it add value? Does it confirm my cricket IQ, or does it challenge it? And if it challenges it, then asking the questions, you know, what does it mean?
“Cricket is flooded with numbers, and I think there's sometimes too much of it, or people focus on useless things that actually make no difference. But certainly, there is some value to be found in certain areas.
“I think you've got to know what you're looking for and how to ask the right questions around it. I look at it every now and again; I'm not wedded to it. And I also try to use my experience from over 400-odd T20 games that I've played.”
The former England white-ball skipper, who recently stepped down from captaincy, has been batting for GT at No.3 in the IPL 2025 and has done extremely well so far. In three innings, Buttler has smashed 166 runs in three innings at an average of 83 and a strike rate of 172.92.
Talking about batting at No.3, the right-hander said: “Playing at number three is a new role for me. I did it a bit with England in the last few months. But yeah, I'm just trying to use all my experience and look at the scoreboard and play what is required.
“You know, obviously, you can see what the openers are doing and if the ball is swinging, or if it's a really good wicket, or whatever. And then, yeah, I could be in the first over, or I could be outside the powerplay. So, I just wait and see and react to how I need to play.”