Scoring rates in the World Cup

Mohandas Menon

In 158 World Cup matches since 1975, a total of 66,230 runs have been scored by the 14 World Cup teams at an average of 30.23 runs per wicket and at a batting strike rate of 72.49 runs per 100 balls.

This would also indicate that bowlers have been conceding runs @ 4.35 per over. Out of the total runs scored, the batsmen's contribution has been 61,263 runs, while the balance 4,967 runs have come in the form of "extras".

England having played in the most matches (40) and has obviously scored maximum runs (8621), while Australia has lost maximum wickets (270). At present South Africa has the best batting strike rate of 79.68 (runs per 100 balls), followed by Australia at 76.46 runs.

With the reduction of overs from 60 to 50 (from the 1987 WC onwards) and also with the development of the new cricketing strategies such as scoring the maximum runs in the first 15-overs, and then lately, the opportunites provided for the "pinch-hitters" at the start of the innings, quick scoring has become the norm in the World Cups.

Incidentally, the 1987 WC saw the fastest strike-rate in history. Teams had scored at the rate of 81.24 runs per 100 balls in 1987, while the 1979 edition saw the slowest scoring rate of just 59.09 runs per balls.

Table A provides an insight to these facts, while table B has the complete summary of the runs scored, wickets lost, extras conceeded and the relevant runs scored for each wicket and runs scored of 100 balls for each of the 14 teams in the World Cup.

Table A :- SUMMARY OF RUNS SCORED, WICKETS LOST, WITH STRIKE-RATES FOR EACH TOURNAMENT

WC Years	M	Runs	(Bat)	Extras	Wkts	Runs/wk	Runs/100b
1975	15	6162	5767	395	208	29.63	65.28
1979	14	5168	4805	363	202	25.58	59.09
1983	27	12046	11024	1022	408	29.52	68.01
1987	27	12522	11607	915	385	32.52	81.24
1992	39	15107	13821	1286	514	29.39	73.70
1996	36	15225	14239	986	474	32.12	77.85
	158	66230	61263	4967	2191	30.23	72.49
Out of the total runs scored, 92.50% were scored off the bat and 7.50% as extras.

Table B :- SUMMARY OF RUNS SCORED, WICKETS LOST, WITH STRIKE-RATES FOR EACH TEAM IN THE WORLD CUP FROM 1975 TO 1996

COUNTRY	M	Runs	(Bat)	byes	lb	wd	nb	Wkt	R/W	R/100B
Australia	37	8291	7696	32	288	172	103	270	30.71	76.46
Canada	3	289	255	4	19	6	5	29	9.97	35.99
East Africa	3	342	317	-	19	1	5	28	12.21	33.93
England	40	8621	7927	43	365	200	86	256	33.68	75.31
India	36	7369	6895	47	190	159	78	244	30.20	74.66
Kenya	6	960	855	3	38	42	22	40	24.00	64.21
Netherlands	5	947	856	8	38	34	11	37	25.59	63.13
New Zealand	35	7769	7242	68	264	129	66	249	31.20	73.96
Pakistan	37	8297	7716	53	244	185	99	242	34.29	74.29
South Africa	15	3325	3135	14	88	50	38	85	39.12	79.68
Sri Lanka	31	6543	6021	43	213	188	78	226	28.95	72.19
UAE	5	784	743	4	14	16	7	39	20.10	58.64
West Indies	37	8042	7480	52	286	138	86	246	32.69	73.93
Zimbabwe	26	4651	4125	25	263	161	77	200	23.26	63.96
	158	66230	61263	396	2329	1481	761	2191	30.23	72.49
Out of the total runs scored, 0.60% were byes, 3.52% were legbyes, 2.24% were wides and 1.15% were no balls