Performance Analysis Intern - Andrew Griffiths
10 June 2014
Andrew Griffiths is on a season long internship with Gloucestershire CCC. He has put together an article explaining his role and duties with the club throughout the season.
"Throughout the 2014 season I will be taking up the post of performance analyst, working alongside Mark Thorburn to provide enhancements in player performance whilst also obtaining key information on opposing teams and players.
I will be working at Gloucestershire for a year (running from last September to the end of the season,) as part of my Sport and Social Science degree at the University of Bath. The internship provides a unique opportunity to work in a professional sporting environment, which has always been a personal ambition, while also working behind the scenes at a club I have grown up supporting from a very young age.
Throughout the winter my main role was performing video and statistical analysis on our own players allowing the coaches to identify and address any technical matters. Post Christmas the focus shifted somewhat to opposition players; packages were compiled containing footage and key statistical data, these were presented to players in the hope of gaining an upper hand prior to competition.
As the season is now in full swing, I take on another role. On match days my time is spent coding the game, which involves working on a computer inputting data in order to provide us with required resources to perform the previously mentioned roles.
Away from Gloucestershire I am still heavily involved in the sport as I spend a large amount of time coaching at Bath Cricket Club where I also play. Working along side the likes of John, Mark and Owen at Gloucestershire has undoubtedly helped me develop in this area as I have learned alternative styles and been able to apply these to my own coaching.
The past few months have reinforced my desire to work in professional sport in the future while also demonstrating how difficult an environment it is to get into.
After the internship has finished I intend to keep myself up to date with performance analysis in all sports whilst paying extra attention to cricket. First and foremost however, I’m looking forward to an exciting and hopefully successful season here in Bristol."
