International cricket runs on information. But collecting data is one thing; turning it into decisions that win matches is another.
We spoke to Scott Irvine, Performance Analyst for the Ireland Men’s National Team, about how NV Play’s analysis tools help shape preparation at the International level, how data becomes action, and why access, speed, and clarity matter more than ever.
First up, tell us about your role. What does analysis look like at an International level?
Scott Irvine: My role is to support coaches and players with information that helps them prepare, compete and improve. At International level, analysis goes far beyond statistics. It involves combining data, video, and tactical insight to build a clear picture of both our own players and the opposition.
A typical week might involve opposition scouting, individual player reviews, live match support, selection discussions, post-series reviews, and monitoring players across International, domestic, and franchise cricket.
Cricket is producing more data than ever before, so the challenge is not finding information, it’s filtering it into something relevant, actionable ,and easy to understand.
Ultimately, analysis is about helping players and coaches make better decisions under pressure. Whether that’s a batter preparing to face a particular bowler, supporting field-setting decisions, or helping coaches design specific training sessions, my goal is to provide clarity and confidence.
What does building a data pack for an International series actually involve?
Scott Irvine: Every series starts with understanding the opposition and the conditions we’re likely to encounter.
A typical example might be preparing for a top-order batter. We’ll identify where they score most heavily, where they’re dismissed most often, how they perform against certain bowlers, what lengths create pressure – and support those findings with video examples.
That information then feeds directly into planning meetings, training design and match tactics.
NV Play sits at the centre of that workflow because it allows us to combine data and video seamlessly. If a coach wants to see every dismissal a batter has had against spin in the last two years, or every boundary scored through a particular area, we can retrieve and package that information very quickly.
The ability to move from a statistic directly into supporting footage is particularly powerful because it helps players understand not just what is happening, but why it is happening.
The final step is simplifying everything. The head coach and players don’t need a 50-page report. They need a small number of key insights that can influence preparation and decision-making.
The challenge as an analyst is distilling large volumes of information into concise reports, presentations and individual video packages. NV Play helps us turn large amounts of data and video into clear, actionable insights.
Historical data is clearly a huge part of the picture. How valuable is having an archive to work from?
Scott Irvine: The archive function is incredibly important. Teams play each other regularly across multiple formats and in different conditions, so being able to quickly access performances from previous series, tournaments and tours is hugely valuable.
Often we’re not just analysing what happened last week. We might be looking at how a batter has evolved over several years, how a bowler has adapted their tactics, or what worked during a previous tour to the same country.
Having immediate access to historical footage and data means we can identify patterns and trends that would otherwise be difficult to find, and provide important context.
One innings or one spell of bowling can be misleading, but when viewed against a larger body of work, much clearer insights emerge.
For Cricket Ireland, it also helps preserve institutional knowledge. Staff and players change over time, but the archive ensures lessons and information from previous campaigns remain accessible to future teams.
International cricket means constant travel. How does NV Play help keep everyone connected?
Scott Irvine: Modern International cricket is incredibly demanding from a travel perspective. Players are often moving between international cricket, franchise tournaments and domestic competitions across multiple countries. Coaches and support staff can be spread across different locations as well.
NV Play gives us a shared platform where everyone can access the same information regardless of where they are. Whether someone is in Belfast, Dublin, Abu Dhabi or Harare, they can access matches, video clips and performance information instantly.
That accessibility has become increasingly important as players spend more time competing in franchise leagues around the world and take greater ownership of their own development.
Rather than waiting for me to send information or being face-to-face with a coach, they can review footage, revisit previous discussions and engage with performance information whenever they need it.
For coaches and management, it ensures everyone is working from the same information, which is invaluable when preparing for international competition.
How important is it to embed analysis into the culture – not just the International setup?
Scott Irvine: For analysis to have a real impact, it has to become part of the culture rather than something that only happens around International matches.
At Cricket Ireland, we want players to engage with information throughout their development journey – from pathway programmes and Emerging Ireland tours through to the senior International team.
A platform like NV Play helps create that continuity. Coaches, analysts and players can all access the same system, which creates a common language around performance.
Importantly, it’s not about overwhelming people with data. It’s about making information accessible and relevant. The more easily players and coaches can interact with video and performance insights, the more naturally analysis becomes embedded in everyday conversations.
When analysis is integrated effectively, it helps drive better learning, stronger preparation and more informed decision-making across the organisation.
If you had to sum up what NV Play has changed for Cricket Ireland in one headline?
Scott Irvine: “NV Play has transformed performance information from something owned by analysts into something accessible and actionable for the entire organisation.”
The biggest change has been speed, accessibility and collaboration. Information that once took significant time to locate, package and distribute can now be accessed almost instantly by players, coaches and support staff.
That means more time can be spent discussing solutions and preparing effectively rather than searching for information.
For Cricket Ireland, NV Play has become much more than a video platform. It’s a central hub for performance intelligence that helps connect planning, preparation and performance across the organisation.
Ultimately, better access to information leads to better conversations, better preparation and better decision-making.
For enterprise-level analysis tools for the elite level of the game, contact NV Play now.