Rating players in test match cricket

Akhtar, S; Scarf, PA; Rasool, Z

Abstract

In general, the evaluation of player performance in test cricket is based on measures
such as batting and bowling averages. These measures have a number of limitations, among which
is that they fail to take into account the context in which runs are made or conceded and wickets are
taken or given away. Furthermore, batting and bowling averages do not allow the comparison of
performances in these two disciplines; this is because batting and bowling performances are
measured using different metrics. With these issues in mind, we develop a new player rating system
for test cricket. We use multinomial logistic regression to model match outcome probabilities
session by session. We then use these probabilities to measure the overall contribution of players to
the match outcome based upon their individual batting, bowling and fielding contributions during
each session. Our measure of contribution has the potential for rating players through over time and
for determining the “best” player in a match, a series, or a calendar year. We use results from 104
matches (in 2010, 2011 and 2012) to illustrate the method.

Citation

Akhtar, S., Scarf, P., & Rasool, Z. (2015). Rating players in test match cricket. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 66, 684-695. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2014.30

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 4, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of the Operational Research Society
• Print ISSN: 0160-5682
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 66
• Pages: 684-695
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2014.30
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/jors.2014.30
• Related Public URLs: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jors/index.html