Analysis of Twenty/20 Cricket performance during the 2008 Indian Premier League

Abstract

Team strategy and tactics in cricket can be influenced by knowledge of the relative importance of team performance indicators. We analysed team, batting and bowling performances at the 2008 Indian Premier League Twenty/20 Tournament (IPL) by comparing the magnitudes of differences in key batting and bowling indicators between winning and losing teams. Magnitude of difference between teams was established with a standardised (Cohen’s) effect size (ES:0.2) with 90% confidence limits. There were several moderate or large differences in performance indicators between winning and losing teams in the IPL. The three best indicators of success in the IPL were taking more wickets in the game (ES=1.93±0.04 90%CL), taking more wickets in the last 6 overs (ES=1.01±0.03) and having a higher run rate (ES=0.96±0.02). Winning teams captured more wickets particularly in the first and last six overs, and were more effective in containing the opposition teams’ run scoring in the middle eight overs. When batting, winning teams tended to face less dot balls and score more runs from 25+ run partnerships. Team tactics should focus on wicket-taking bowling and field placements in the first and last six overs, and run restrictive field placing and bowling in the middle eight overs.