A Statistical Analysis of Bowling Performance in Cricket

TL;DR

This study statistically examines how bowling speed affects performance in cricket, confirming faster bowlers perform better overall and are more effective against lower and middle order batsmen, with no significant difference against top-order batters.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on the impact of bowling velocity on performance metrics and batting vulnerability, challenging common cricketing notions.

Findings

Faster bowlers have better average and strike-rate.

Lower and middle order batsmen are more vulnerable to pace.

No significant performance difference between fast and fast-medium bowlers against top-order batsmen.

Abstract

There is a widespread notion in cricketing world that with increasing pace the performance of a bowler improves. Additionally, many commentators believe lower order batters to be more vulnerable to pace. The present study puts these two ubiquitous notions under test by statistically analysing the differences in performance of bowlers from three subpopulations based on average release velocities. Results from one-way ANOVA reveal faster bowlers to be performing better, in terms of Average and Strike-rate, but no significant differences in the case of Economy rate and CBR. Lower and Middle order batsmen were found to be more vulnerable against faster bowling. However, there was no statistically significant difference in performance of Fast and Fast-Medium bowlers against a top-order batter.