[Imtiaz]

The following is a further refinement of the ideas set out above. The aim is to compute a score which expresses a team's performance capability - not just as a ranking but also as a relative measure. For example, ODI championship table says Sri Lanka has 106 points and Bangladesh has 1 point. It , of course, follows that Sri Lanka is better than Bangladesh but surely not 106 times better !! It quite accurately gives a ranking but does not aim to indicate performance capability.

Below, I have considered all 2004 ODI matches played by each country. The following are the team batting and bowlind summary data:

Pl. Inn. NO. Runs Ave. Exp.Score
[Pl.] [Balls] [Runs] [Ec/R] [Op.Sc.]

BDESH 9 92 13 1410 17.85 178.48
Opp. 9 2233 1545 4.15 207.57
TPG2004 -29.09

SL 13 106 22 2253 26.82 268.21
Opp. 13 3489 2370 4.08 203.78
TPG2004 64.43

IND 18 155 31 4143 33.41 334.11
Opp. 18 4890 4346 5.33 266.63
TPG2004 67.49

PAK 13 121 21 3107 31.07 310.70
Opp. 13 3501 3006 5.15 257.58
TPG2004 53.12

AUS 18 4280 36.27 362.71
Opp. 18 4770 3535 4.45 222.33
TPG2004 140.38

ENG 10 1754 26.58 265.76
Opp. 10 2265 1922 5.09 254.57
TPG2004 11.19

Note: Batting Expected Total = Team Total Runs / No.of completed innings

Opposition Expected Total = Economy Rate * 50 overs

Based on this measurement, Bangladesh is 29 runs worse off against our 2004 representative opposition [ which is ZIM3, WI3, HK1, PAK1,IND1 ]. Bangladesh has a very good economy rate. But, bear in mind, our 2004 opposition.

Sri Lanka's score is +64. India is slightly better than SL.

Australia by the way stands head and shoulders above everyone else. The ZIM tour may have inflated these figures.

Another way of looking at the same data is through the Stricking Rate. This has the attraction in that it is the opposite of the Economy Rate. The Bangladesh S/R for 2004 is: 59.44. Thus Expected Team Total = 59.44 /100 * 6 * 50 = 178.32
Opposition = 207.57
Net Striking Rate [NSR]= -29.25

Sri Lanka ETT 71.18*3= 213.54 Opposition = 203.78
Net Striking Rate [NSR]= 9.76

Just like the official points system, a ranking can be made here as well.

As they say, there are many ways to skin a cat !

[Edited on 23-7-2004 by Imtiaz]