Cricket fans worldwide are experiencing a revolutionary way to connect with live matches, thanks to a cutting-edge collaboration between the global technology leaders, HCLTech and Microsoft.
The Cricket Australia Live app now features an innovative “AI Insights” matchday companion, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to provide a richer and more immersive fan experience.
This groundbreaking feature offers users a dynamic stream of text-based updates throughout each match, going far beyond traditional live scores and commentary. By harnessing generative AI through the Azure OpenAI Service, the app intelligently identifies key narratives unfolding on the field, highlights exceptional player performances, and notes significant milestones as they happen. This contextual information provides fans with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the game, enriching their viewing experience.
Commenting on the occasion, Sonia Eland, Executive Vice President and Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, HCLTech, said, “By harnessing the power of GenAI, we can reimagine the way fans engage with sport. HCLTech has partnered with Cricket Australia for several years through our long-term role as the sport’s Official Digital Technology Partner, but our collaboration with Microsoft will further enhance the digital experience. Ultimately, our goal is to bring cricket fans even closer to the action.”
Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, added, “We’re excited to bring cutting-edge AI technology to cricket fans through our partnership with Cricket Australia and HCLTech. This innovation demonstrates how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the world around us, bringing insight, meaning and personalisation to audiences old and new.”
Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, continued, “We are very excited to partner with both HCLTech and Microsoft to create brilliant experiences for our fans by enhancing the CA Live app. We aspire to be a world leader in the way sporting codes bring fans closer to the game through digital technologies and we’re thrilled to launch this latest innovation at the CommBank Women’s Ashes Day-Night Test.”
The AI Insights matchday companion is available to all Cricket Australia Live App users globally, offering a more accessible and immersive way to follow live cricket. This initiative represents a significant leap forward in reimagining fan engagement through AI, delivering context, analysis, and a stronger connection to the action on the pitch.
The collaboration builds on the existing partnership between HCLTech and Cricket Australia, which began in 2019 with the transformation of the organization’s core API platforms. A five-year extension in 2023 solidified HCLTech’s role as Cricket Australia’s official digital technology partner. This ongoing partnership has encompassed initiatives like TechJam, a crowdsourcing effort to develop innovative tech solutions for the sport, and has contributed to making the Cricket Australia Live app what the partners believe to be the number one sporting app in Australia.