An analysis of ODI matches
This is a statistical summary of the 2784 matches which have been played over the past 36 years somewhat similar to the Test analysis which was done earlier
AFP
This is a statistical summary of the 2784 matches which have been played over the past 36 years, somewhat similar to the Test analysis I had done earlier. Certain changes have been done to the analysis to bring out the nuances of ODIs. As I have indicated in earlier posts, these factors will be incorporated into the ODI batting and ODI bowling analysis which will be done henceforth.
I wanted to incorporate the Duckworth/Lewis (or its equivalent) calculations in ODI matches into the article. However I feel that it warrants a separate article in the light of the farce during the fourth ODI between India and England in Cuttack.
The six periods have been constructed taking into account the number of matches. It is possible minor adjustments will bring major rule changes in sync with the periods. However that would leave the number of matches unbalanced.
1. Match analysis (Runs/Wkts per match, Rpo, Rpw)
Period Mats R/M W/M Rpo Rpw|Mats Balls Runs Wkts
The wickets per match has been reasonably steady over the years. There is a 10% increase over the past few years in the runs per match. However, the major change is in runs per over (rpo), which has shown an 18% increase over the years. The current rpo figure is about 10% over the all-time average. The runs per wicket has remained almost the same over the past 25 years.
There must be very little doubt the rpo has shown an increase primarily due to the change in the treatment of the opening overs and Powerplays.
2. Match/Inns Analysis (Low & High inns scores)
Period %I<100 %I>300 %M>300x2 |Inns I<100 I>300 M>300x2
The percentage of (all out) innings below 100 follows a peculiar pattern. It’s very high during the two end periods and very low during one particular period (1996-2000). Frankly, I cannot explain the sub-2% figure.
The 300-plus total, after being virtually non-existent during the 1980s, has now moved to over 10%. In other words, more than one in every 10 innings is a 300-plus innings. The batsmen never had it so good. Spare a thought for the bowlers, shackled in every which way.
I am intrigued when I look at the last few years. There is a high percentage of totals below 100 and an extraordinarily high number of totals above 300. Maybe it indicates a number of weak teams and a few strong teams.
The first match in which both teams exceeded 300 runs occurred in 1992 between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in New Plymouth. Since then it has happened quite frequently, with high number of occurrences in recent years.
3. Opening partnerships analysis
Period Open OP100+ OPSub10 |OpPShps 100+ Sub10 Runs
The opening partnerships have averaged around 35 over the years with very little variations. Similarly there has been a 7% occurrence of 100-plus opening partnerships through the different periods. It is only in the failed opening partnerships that there has been a significant 20-25% increase during the current decade. This may again be a reflection of more weaker teams.
4. Extras Analysis - per 300 balls (Extras/Byes/Leg-byes/No-balls/Wides)
Period E/3b B/3b L/3b N/3b W/3b|Extras Byes Leg-byes No-balls Wides
This time I have computed the extras per 300 balls, as it constitutes being a normal completed innings. The extras per 300 balls has remained fairly static over the years. Byes have dropped significantly after the first two periods and then remained static. This has occurred despite the wicketkeeper standing up to a number of medium-pacers. Similarly, the leg-byes per match was quite high during the first two periods and then dropped off. One possible reason could be the deployment of more spinners after the initial two periods.
The number of wides per 300 balls has increased drastically over the years, certainly because of very strict interpretation of wides by the umpires. It is true the number of off-side wides has increased significantly over the past few years. Also, virtually no allowance is given for any leg-side deviation.
Now we come to no-balls. Very interesting indeed. The last three years has seen a drastic drop in no-balls per match. This is not because the bowlers have suddenly become more attentive about where to land their feet. The reduction has been primarily caused by the free-hit rule, which penalises bowlers to a great extent. While not accepting that this is necessarily a correct law change - it penalises an already-beleagured bowler more - there is no denying the bowlers are now a lot more careful about overstepping.
The recent rule changes also mean that there are more transgressions covered for declaring no-balls, such as short deliveries and deliberate high full tosses. This would also contribute to the increase in no-balls.
5. Results Analysis - (Results/HomeWins/AwayWins/NoRes)
Period FbtW SbtW OthW NoRes |Mats FbtW SbtW OthW NoRes
First a summary of the "Other wins" matches.
ODI # 56: Conceded by India against Pakistan as a gesture of protest.ODI # 435: India defeated Pakistan on the basis of losing fewer wickets.
ODI # 522: Pakistan defeated Australia on the basis of losing fewer wickets.
ODI # 1081: Sri Lanka won by default against India because of Calcutta
crowd disturbances.
ODI # 1724: Conceded by England against Pakistan as a sporting gesture.
During two of the periods (early 1990s and early 2000s), the teams batting first won more matches than teams chasing. During the other four periods, more teams have won chasing than defending. Overall also there seems to be an edge for the team batting second. This difference seems to be more pronounced during the past few years. The number of "No results" has also increased significantly, probably caused by the obsession to play matches during all 12 months, irrespective of weather conditions.
1. Batting analysis (Right & Left)
Period R-Avg L-Avg T-Avg|R-Inns R-Runs|L-Inns L-Runs|T-Inns T-Runs
Barring the first period, the batting average seems to have settled around a value of 27.
As in Test matches, the left-handers have a higher average (by a margin of 15%). Most of the reader comments on this topic will be applicable. Note the very high average for left-handers during the most recent period.
2. Batting analysis 2 (Batting strike-rate - Left & Right)
Period R-SR L-SR T-SR|R-Runs R-Balls|L-Runs LBalls| T-Runs T-Balls
The scoring-rate was quite low during the first three periods and has now picked up to be around the 76-mark. There is a significant variation of around 20% over the years. Barring one period, the left-handers seem to be scoring slightly faster than right-handers.
3. Bowling analysis 1 (Bowling average - Pace & Spin)
Period P-Avg S-Avg T-Avg|PWkts PRuns|SWkts SRuns| TWkts TRuns
The bowling average follows the same pattern as batting strike-rate. Quite low during the first period and then plateauing around 31 during the next five periods.
As expected the averages for pace bowlers are lower - only over 10% - when compared to spinners. The last period, however, has seen a narrowing of this gap. The trend of depending on spinners has also picked up as evidenced by the recently concluded Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka series, where both teams had two fast bowlers and an assortment of four to five spinners.
4. Bowling analysis 2 (Bowling strike-rate - Pace & Spin)
Period P-SR S-SR T-SR|PWkts PBalls|SWkts SBalls| TWkts TBalls
Surprisingly, there seems to be a distinct improvement of bowler strike-rates during the past few years. Again, one cannot but point to the number of weak teams playing one-day cricket.
The strike-rate for pace bowlers are 15% better those for spinners. Recently, spinners seem to be striking better, no doubt aided by Ajantha Mendis, who has taken 48 wickets in his first 17 matches at a strike-rate of a wicket every 16 balls. (Yes, you read it right, 16.)
5. Bowling analysis 3 (Bowling rpo - Pace & Spin)
Period PRpo SRpo TRpo| PRuns PBalls| SRuns SBalls| TRuns TBalls
The rpo seems to have increased by about 5% during recent years - not a very big change. The surprise is that the all-matches rpo figure for pace bowlers and spinners is almost the same.
6. Dismissals analysis
a. Bowled - (% and per match)
1. While the drop is not as pronounced as Test matches, the percentage of batsmen bowled, which had been high during the first two periods, has fallen to around 20% now.
2. There has been a slight increase in the lbw percentage over the years - possibly reverse-swing coming into play.
3. As expected, the percentage of catches is quite high and has remained around 45% over the years.
4. The percentage of stumpings was quite high at 4% during the late 1990s but has slipped since then. Even now an attacking spinner like Mendis, with 48 wickets in 17 matches, seems to depend more on direct dismissals such as bowled and leg-before wicket.
5. Wicketkeeper catches have only varied slightly and are now a bit higher than the all-matches average percentage.
6. Run-outs peaked to over 15% during the decade 1985-1995 but have dropped off since then. Possibly the introduction of the third umpire seems to favour the batsmen in border-line decisions.
A separate article on Duckworth/Lewis will follow during the coming weeks.