Analysis of performance at the 2007 Cricket World Cup

Knowledge of the relative importance of team performance indicators in cricket helps determine team strategy and tactics. We analysed team, batting and bowling performances at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup Tournament to determine the magnitudes of differences between winning and losing teams. We compared the magnitudes of differences in key batting and bowling indicators between the qualifying Round Robin and the final Super 8 games. Magnitude of difference between teams was established with a standardised (Cohens) effect size (ES) with 90% confidence limits. The difference in performance indicators between winning and losing teams were smaller in the later (Super 8) stages of the tournament. The two performance indicators most highly correlated with winning in the Super 8 stage were taking wickets (ES=1.79±0.04 90%CL) and run rate (ES=1.39±0.02 90%CL). Hitting sixes had a greater influence during the earlier stage of the tournament; while bowling maiden overs was more important as the tournament progressed. The main contribution of this paper is that winning teams capture more wickets and have more 50-plus partnerships while maintaining a higher run rate primarily through hitting a higher percentage of runs in boundaries. Team selection should exploit these performance factors through selection of players most capable of delivering these objectives.