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The cult of feedback and questionnaires is killing sporting instinct and individualism and in danger of dragging outstanding young players into the pack of mediocrity, writes Ed Smith in the Telegraph .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
The cult of feedback and questionnaires is killing sporting instinct and individualism and in danger of dragging outstanding young players into the pack of mediocrity, writes Ed Smith in the Telegraph.
I'm all for introducing scientific rigour into sport wherever possible. It would be mad not to. Modern training techniques have undoubtedly made players stronger, fitter and more powerful. Some areas of sport do suit quantitative analysis. But data and measurements get us only so far – the human dimension never goes away. In our computer age, when information is getting easier, cheaper and more worthless by the minute, we should be wary of allowing ourselves to become slaves to what the computer tells us are 'the answers'. Systems shouldn't become a cop-out from judgements.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo