How Technology is Transforming Cricket: From the Pitch to the Fans

Introduction

Cricket has always been more than just a sport—it’s a community, a culture, and a lifelong passion for millions. But in today’s fast-changing world, the game is also being transformed by technology, from grassroots coaching to international tournaments. In this episode of Sports CTO Talks, we sit down with Steve McConchie, Director at Big Dog Cricket, to explore how innovation is shaping the future of cricket.

Steve shares his journey of building Big Dog Cricket into a coaching and development powerhouse, supporting players at all levels—from kids just picking up a bat to seasoned professionals refining their game. Along the way, he highlights how data, digital tools, and smart solutions are opening new possibilities for both players and coaches.

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a startup founder, or simply curious about where cricket is headed, this conversation offers valuable insights into the intersection of tradition, passion, and technology in one of the world’s most beloved sports.

Host (Ami): Welcome to Sports CTO Talks. In this series, we will be connecting with industry leaders from the sports and technology domain. I am Ami, your guide on this journey through the minds of amazing tech leaders to understand and shape the future of sports. We will dive deep into discussions with industry leaders about sustainability, cloud, AI and many more things, if it is sports tech, we are talking about it.

Today we have a very interesting guest from Big Dog, Steve McConchie. We welcome you, Steve, to the podcast.

Guest (Steve): Thank you very much. Thanks for having me.

Host (Ami): Steve is the director at Big Dog. It is a cricket coaching and development business. It offers specialist coaching support to community cricket clubs as well as a range of programs on school holidays, overseas tours, coach mentoring and equipment. Today he would be talking about how technology is transforming the cricket from grassroots level to the global businesses. Ohh Steve, we would like, you know, to understand your journey on this.

Guest (Steve): Yeah, sure. So yeah, so Big Dog Cricket is is part of the Big Dog brand... [continues full story of his journey].

Host (Ami): So like, you know, when you were talking about family or the circle of life, I just want to begin with asking, you know, how is the integration of technology into cricket broadcasting or cricket in general and how is it reshaping the fan experience these days?

Guest (Steve): Well, it's obviously come a long way in the last 20 years...

Host (Ami): Absolutely. So like, you know, when you're talking about IPL and other cricket matches on a whole, like how have you advanced performance analytics or the sense technologies which are going on? Has it revolutionized player performance or on the field strategies are changing, you know, how is it going on?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, so I feel that with the technology you can use at training...

Host (Ami): So when you're talking about analysis, I want to understand in detail a bit about video analysis and how that is, you know, the data is driving the coaches for enhancing the batting, the bowling or the fielding? How does that go about?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, so it is certainly growing at a rapid pace...

Host (Ami): Okay. So, like, you know, when you when you were discussing about AI integrating these days, so what are the potential impacts you are seeing into, you know, driven analytics, and machine learning on the strategic decisions on the administrative side?

Guest (Steve): Uh Yeah, so that's that's probably a tricky one because you can almost put anything into AI...

Host (Ami): Absolutely. So and like how is social media platforms these days playing a role with, you know, reels or shots or quick 30 second videos? So how is that shaping up in the cricket community?

Guest (Steve): I think it's great. So I think as India grows, there's a lot of cricket academies...

Host (Ami): Okay, and how is this social media helping the clubs, the leagues, not individual players? So, you know, is it growing today or back then? How is the difference and you know, what can you see?

Guest (Steve): I think most leagues now in Australia in comps would probably have their own social media manager...

Host (Ami): And like, other than the social media, like, you know, when we talk about infrastructure, such as a smart seating or digital displays or real-time stats, so is it elevating the matchday experience or like, you know, how is the fan taking it in?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, I feel that it gets the fan closer...

Host (Ami): So like, have you seen any shift recently, like, you know, fans sitting at home and watching cricket or coming to stadiums, like it has increased, decreased or, you know, what are the trends these days?

Guest (Steve): I think post straight out of COVID, particularly in Australia, crowds are probably down...

Host (Ami): I now wanted to understand a few details about wearable technology. Like how does it help in, you know, injury prevention or the player fitness into the cricket?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, I think if with a lot of the sports science now...

Host (Ami): Okay. So, OK, how is the ball tracking? Like, you know, specifically the Hawkeye thing influenced umpiring, decision making or the integrity of the game? Like, you know, because you you play and you wear a CEO's hat also. So I just wanted to understand that perspective.

Guest (Steve): Uh, tricky one because it probably bring the umpires under a bit more scrutiny...

Host (Ami): Absolutely. So, what is the scope for community cricket or the players in the community cricket or the grassroots level leagues, you know, to grow, to evolve and shine, outshine. How, like how is it happening these days?

Guest (Steve): In terms of, in terms of tech as?...

Host (Ami): And like, you know, when we go into the revenue streams or the revenue angle, what are innovations happening with the NFT based digital collectibles or the fantasy leagues? Like, you know, Are teams and leagues incorporating that? And is it helping fans at the end of the day?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, I feel like they're they're all positive things...

Host (Ami): Okay. So from the business angle or from, you know, revenue generating angle, if new players are coming into merchandise or ticketing solutions, how open is the space and is it easy for them to, you know, make some solutions for the fans or like?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, yeah, I think all that stuff's moving probably pretty rapidly...

Host (Ami): Absolutely, absolutely. And like, you know, in the past you were discussing about grassroot level sports. So, you know, there is a question, how, how are academics and the grassroot level leagues adopting to digital platforms?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, so I think social media is obviously a big one for cricket academies...

Host (Ami): Okay, so as you're working even into the grassroots sports, like what are the challenges you see the grassroots cricket teams face in terms of technology or in terms of otherwise?

Guest (Steve): Um Probably price...

Host (Ami): Okay, and now I would like to understand women in cricket as a whole, you know, how is the concept emerging? How are people taking it in? And you know, what are the opportunities they are getting, you know, like as a whole?

Guest (Steve): Yeah, big fan of the women's game...

Host (Ami): Absolutely, absolutely. So like you know what are the few things continuing the question only that a few things what can be done at grassroots level to enhance more women's participation into cricket.

Guest (Steve): Yeah, I think great question...

Host (Ami): Absolutely, absolutely. Anytime more opportunity for the girls in any segment of sports is good.

Guest (Steve): Absolutely. And I think the financial element's got to kind of flow onto that as well...

Host (Ami): So like, you know, what are the ethical concerns you see on the grassroot level sports or the clubs around specific to data privacy or the performance enhancements into the technology?

Guest (Steve): I probably think it's the data privacy is just the...

Host (Ami): OK, so you know a few learnings over the years about cricket and how would you like to share it with the coming generation? Who is playing cricket? Who is seeing cricket? Who is just adoring cricket?

Guest (Steve): It's a great game. I would think be the best player you can be...

Host (Ami): Yeah, absolutely. So, like now, Steve, we move on to the next segment of the podcast that is rapid fire round. Let's go. Okay. I will ask you a few questions. You will have to be quick in answering. Okay.

Guest (Steve): Okay.

Host (Ami): If you could face one legendary bowler for an over, who would it be?

Guest (Steve): Shane Warne.

Host (Ami): What's your dream cricket stadium to watch a live match?

Guest (Steve): Uh Let's go Wayne Keatty, IPL final.

Host (Ami): T20 thrill or Test match drama? What's your pick?

Guest (Steve): Ohh Both, but I do love Test cricket.

Host (Ami): If you had to rename a cricket shot after yourself, what would it be called?

Guest (Steve): Um Steve Drive.

Host (Ami): Who is the most entertaining cricketer to follow on social media?

Guest (Steve): Um Don't know, probably take more notice of Glenn Maxwell than any others.

Host (Ami): If cricket had a new tech innovation tomorrow, what would you want it to be?

Guest (Steve): Oh, I like this. A device that would keep arms straight for kids bowling.

Host (Ami): That's a good one. That's a specific one. What's your go-to cricket snack while watching a match?

Guest (Steve): Uh Probably chocolate.

Host (Ami): If you could change one rule in cricket, what would it be?

Guest (Steve): Um, oh, I don't know. That's a good one. Stumped. Don't know.

Host (Ami): You can say none. That's fine.

Guest (Steve): No, I'll keep it there.

Host (Ami): Okay. Now we'll move on to the next segment. That is, you will have to answer one question in 20–30 seconds. Okay. Like, I would like to understand, you know, what is the role of AI and how technology is transforming cricket from grassroots to the global businesses.

Guest (Steve): I think the tech products that are coming into cricket now, hugely valuable at grassroots level, where they weren't in the past, they were only available for professionals, but now they're available to everyone. I think it can enhance the game, enhance the skills, the knowledge, and I think a lot of that circulates back to like fan engagement at a professional level. So it's an exciting time and it's only growing, I think, rapidly.

Host (Ami): Absolutely. Perfect. Thank you, Steve, for sharing your wonderful insights today and joining us.

Guest (Steve): Thank you so much for having me.

Host (Ami): So everyone, let's stay connected in understanding more about sports and technology. Please share this podcast with your friends, families, and the people who love sports and technology. This was Steve sharing his insights today, and let's meet next week in the next episode. Till then, stay curious, stay inspired, and keep exploring.