An Analysis on the Disparity of Statistical Data in Football and Cricket Management

The world of football fans when faced with a new manager, as was the case with Liverpool FC's appointment of Arne Slot, are no doubt treated to a plethora of available information. A quick search reveals his background, last club performance, and even his impressive record of a 2.15 points average per game.

This data, however, comes in stark contrast to the cricket world. A T20 franchise hiring a new head coach is greeted with scant data on their coaching record. ESPNcricinfo does not keep win percentage records for coaches, leaving searching enthusiasts at a loss. The public's primary source of statistics comes from independent analysts like Kieran Parmley of CricViz, recording match data over several years.

Former player Alex Hales, who has represented 11 different short-form teams in the last year, reveals the transient life of most cricket players. Coaches, however, due to the nature of their job, require more stable terms. There are only 12 known coaches who have at least a one-season tenure in three or more premier leagues in the last few years since 2018-19.

Most of these coaches have more wins than losses, with two noticeable outliers. Andy Flower and Trevor Bayliss stand out, with Flower (W101, L68) and Bayliss (W49, L69) showing significant differences in their records. Flower joined the circuit in 2020 and has won titles in PSL, the Hundred, and ILT20. Often described as 'thorough,' Flower has established a remarkable record, taking his teams into the knockout stages in thirteen of the fifteen seasons he has coached.

Arne Slot's easy-to-find football records against the unavailable data for cricket coaches like Flower and Bayliss draw attention to the pressing need for more accessible T20 league coaches' statistics.