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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

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