ECB to use computer rankings to find talent

England

The ECB have announced that they will use computer programme during this season's Royal London One Day Cup to identify top talent, and those players will clash in a North v South series in the UAE.

The computer programme, designed by the ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association, will rank players according to performance, captaincy, opposition, and such, and the top five players from each region will play in the event.

This applies to England-qualified players though, and the remained of the North and South teams will be picked by the selectors. The three-match one-day series will be played in March next year in the UAE.

ECB director Andrew Strauss said: "This is a good opportunity for England, domestic players and the game.

"Finding the best players outside the current England set-up, playing them against each other in overseas conditions and placing them in an England environment will help us see if they're ready for international cricket.

"As a player you always like to see how you rank – it gives you recognition and here it comes with the added bonus of getting further into the England reckoning as we look ahead to the World Cup here in 2019.

"And for fans it also gives an added element to the Royal London One-Day Cup, putting the spotlight on the players to follow in the 50-over game."

Jason Ratcliffe, the PCA assistant CEO who was responsible for creating the MVP rankings, said: "It's great news to work more closely with the ECB and utilise more high performance criteria to create the output.

"Players hugely value the MVP statistics and many have personal bonus measurements within their contracts based on the standings."

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