As the IPL is approaching its grand finale, everyone is(rather was) curious about who will be the final 4 that will be battling it out. On one such discussion at home, my uncle and dad were arguing about the net run-rate that is the decider when there is a tie in the point-table.The argument being that - Does the number wickets lost by the team have a say in the net run-rate of the team?

As one knows that run-rate is the average runs scored in one over
.i.e. if Team A scores 125 runs in 20 overs, then their run-rate is 125/20 = 6.25 (runs/over)
or
If Team B scores 125 in 15 overs, then their run-rate is 125/15 = 8.33 (runs/over)

Run-rate =
Total runs scored
------------------
Total overs played

Now, the net run-rate of a team is the incremental/decremental rate change with respect to the opponent, i.e. it is the value obtained after subtracting the opponent's run-rate from the team's run-rate.

Thus this can be a positive or a negative value depending on the relative performance of the team against the opponent.

Net run-rate =
Total runs scored by team _ Total runs scored by opponent
-------------------------- --------------------------------
Total overs played by team Total overs played by opponent

While calculating net run-rate for a team's performance for more than one match(mostly a series), the score and the overs should be a cummulative data, and the above equation becomes

Net run-rate =
Cumm runs by team Cumm runs by all opponents
----------------- - -----------------------
Cumm overs by team Cumm overs by all opponents


Hence the number of wickets lost by a team plays no role in the calculation of net run-rate of a team.


Hence if Team A has a target of 200 in 20 overs, with required run-rate = 200/20 = 10 runs/over and they get all out for 150 in 12 overs, then Team A shall lose the match, but have a net run-rate of 150/12 - 200/20 = 12.5 - 10 = +2.5

I feel that this parameter doesnot give a complete picture of the performance of the team. Even though team A has a bunch of irresponsible batsmen who throw their bats at every ball bowled, their team ends up having a higher net run-rate than the rest!

There has to be a different parameter which also brings into account the wickets fallen and/or the rate of fall of wickets and maybe other parameters that provides a balanced picture of the performance of a team.

The international cricket proves yet another time that it is eventually a batsman oriented game rather than an evenly balanced game!

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