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The balls of the Century

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Role: Art Director, Motion designer, Illustrator

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THE BRIEF

​​​Cricket is a sport where a single delivery can define careers, matches, and legacies.


The challenge was to translate ESPNcricinfo’s long-form, expert-written articles analysing the greatest balls in cricket history; into visual stories that were fast to understand, emotionally engaging, and technically precise for a digital-first audience.

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The content needed to respect the intelligence of cricket fans while remaining accessible, dynamic, and compelling across video and social platforms.

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THE INSIGHT 

At the highest level, cricket is not just about skill. It’s about anticipation, deception, timing, and psychological pressure.

 

To communicate this, the visuals couldn’t simply show action; they needed to slow the moment down, isolate

decision-making, and highlight the fine margins that make these deliveries legendary.

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THE IDEA

I approached each ball as a micro-performance: a split-second battle between bowler and batter.

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  • Break down elite bowling moments into clear visual phases

  • Synchronise expert commentary with illustrated motion cues

  • Use rhythm, pause, and replay to mirror how athletes and analysts experience the moment

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Synchronized Voice-Over and Illustrations

Visuals were built around Ian Chappell’s commentary, ensuring illustrations reinforced.

Strategic Pauses with Call-Outs

Motion design included deliberate pauses and call-outs to allow viewers to absorb complex explanations.

Enhanced Visual Experience

Illustrative elements enhance the visual experience, ensuring a more engaging understanding of Chappell's commentary.

Replay Feature for Clarity

Key deliveries were replayed to reinforce understanding and deepen engagement.

ART DIRECTION

The visual language was designed to prioritise clarity, focus, and rhythm.

LOGO

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COLOUR

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TYPOGRAPHY

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MOTION

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EXECUTION

I led the project end-to-end:

  • Translated long-form editorial analysis into visual narratives

  • Created storyboards and style frames aligned to performance breakdowns

  • Designed and animated illustrations synced precisely with commentary

  • Directed motion pacing to reflect intensity, anticipation, and release

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IMPACT

  • Reached 800K–1M+ views across ESPNcricinfo’s digital and social platforms

  • Achieved ~30% higher engagement compared to standard static article formats

  • Widely shared by cricket journalists and fans, reinforcing ESPNcricinfo’s authority in cricket analysis

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