AI is already changing cricket. A robot bowling the perfect doosra is still a long way off
From scouting reports to pitch analysis, artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping the sport. But it is helping humans do their jobs better, not replacing them.
Key points
- AI tools are already in use by coaches and analysts in professional cricket, according to The Guardian.
- Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher, warned last week that AI could produce "a new species that ends up ruling the world".
- No AI system can currently replicate the physical skill of swinging an old cricket ball or reading a seaming pitch.
- The technology is changing how cricket is studied and prepared for, even if the game itself is still played by humans.
A former OpenAI researcher said last week that humanity could end up "creating a new species that ends up ruling the world." Serious stuff. After sitting with that thought for a moment, a smaller question surfaces: could this new species bowl a doosra? A doosra, for the uninitiated, is a deceptive off-spin delivery that turns the opposite way to what a batsman expects. It takes years for a human to master.
The honest answer right now is no. AI cannot replicate the feel of worn leather in a bowler's hand, or the instinct a seam bowler develops on a damp morning in Derby. Those things still belong entirely to people.
So what is AI actually doing in cricket?
It is doing the analytical work that used to eat up hours of a coach's week. Think of it as a fast, thorough assistant who never needs a tea break.
Players and analysts are using AI tools to break down opposition batting patterns, spot weaknesses faster than any spreadsheet could, and build training plans around individual needs. The coach still makes the call, and the player still bowls the ball. AI just makes the preparation sharper.
That is the honest picture of where the technology sits right now: an upgrade to the backroom, not a replacement for the middle. Our earlier story on AI video analysis from 24 August showed how these tools are getting better at processing match footage faster, which is exactly the kind of capability coaches will notice first.
Should cricket fans be worried?
Not really. The soul of the game, the duel between bat and ball, the captain's read of the weather, the crowd noise when a wicket falls, none of that is under threat.
AI is good at crunching numbers at pace. It can process hundreds of hours of match footage to find a pattern a human might miss. Feeling pressure, adapting mid-over on instinct, or psyching out a nervous tailender are different matters entirely.
Think of it as a good pair of glasses for people who already understand the game. Sharpens the view; does not change who's looking.
The bigger question raised by researchers like Kokotajlo is a long-term one about AI's place in society, not next Saturday's county match. For now, the most important person in cricket is still the one standing at the crease.
Common questions
Is AI being used in professional cricket right now?
Yes. Coaches and analysts at professional level already use AI tools to review footage, spot opponent patterns and tailor training. It has not changed who plays or who decides; it has changed how quickly the groundwork gets done.
Could AI ever physically play cricket?
Physically replicating cricket, including grip, release and reading a live pitch, is far beyond what AI can do today. AI lives in software. The robotic hardware that would need to match a skilled bowler does not yet exist at that level.
