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Cricket Australia has implemented artificial intelligence and technologies to help prepare an under-19s World Cup squad hurt by COVID-19 restrictions.
Artificial intelligence and bat sensors have been deployed to help Australia take a new-age approach to the under-19 World Cup, making up for lost time at the first junior camp in almost two years.
Next month's World Cup in the Caribbean shapes as the most difficult in years, with no underage carnivals possible in Australia since the last global tournament.
Players have also been unable to gather for national camps, with even this week's in Adelaide only comprising of 22 players from a larger 37-man squad largely through border closures.
Youngsters in different states have also been working in different conditions, with players in Victoria and NSW having far less access to elite training through lockdowns.
But selectors will ensure they don't go in unsighted.
Streaming of grade matches around the country has been used to monitor progress, while new technology has advanced well beyond that for those who could enter South Australia.
Artificial intelligence ball-tracking, bat sensors and radar guns have been used for pitch maps in games, as well as contact points for batsmen.
The technology is the first of its kind in Australia for coaching purposes, and will likely be available for first-class matches by the end of the summer with data from the camp assisting development.
It replaces analysts visually marking where they believes a ball has pitched, offering a proper insight into a bowlers' consistency and batters' decision making.
"We have always had a heck of a lot of data and information," head of pathways Graham Manou told AAP.
"What we are starting to do is really hone in on the data points that are really meaningful from a talent ID perspective.
"It allows a great conversation starter.
"As a player you think you might be feeling or seeing a certain thing. As a coach you might be thinking you are seeing a certain thing.
"Some of the technology is allowing us to see 360-degrees of what is going on.
"That has allowed broader and more in-depth conversation between the coaches and players."
A Kookaburra smart ball that measures spin was also meant to be used to monitor speed points and spin revolutions, but border closures meant that was not practical.
That will however now likely be implemented in games at national carnivals in April.
CA has also been working with Indian-based company Str8bat, which measures bat angle, bat path, bat speed, impact speed and the point in games.
"We're trying new things just to inform what we are seeing," Manou said.
"Any gain we can get that may escalate the development of our players can only be a good thing."
