What is a good way of analyzing T20 bowling performances?

 What is a good way of analyzing T20 bowling performances?

 

The traditional metrics of average (runs conceded per wicket) or strike rate (balls taken per wicket) do not fully explain T20 bowling impact. Economy (runs conceded per over) is also very important. Some sort of combination of all of these is required to separate out the performance. So, here’s a simple metric, easy to calculate and apply, that can do the job. The metric was derived based on the data of the  Top 100 IPL wicket takers and the Top 90 T20I wicket takers (min 25 wickets).

This Metric is Econ-SR Combo, which accounts for both the economy rate and the strike rate. It de facto accounts for the averages, because relatively low averages can only be attained by having a good combination of the above two.

The Econ-SR combo = (100/economy rate) X (100/ Strike Rate). That’s all there is to it.

Here’s the table to check where a bowler is:


For example, if a bowler has an economy rate of 8.20 and a strike rate of 22 balls/ wicket, his score would be (100/8) x (100/22) = 55.4

In IPL, this will be below average whereas in T20I it will be poor.If a bowler has an economy rate of 7 and a strike rate of 18, his score would be 79.3. This will be outstanding in IPL, but only above average in T20I.

There’s a reason why benchmarks for IPL are lower. It’s a tougher competition. Most players have a better performance (lower economy/ lower strike rate) in T20I. There are no easy opponents in IPL as all teams are evenly balanced.

There are some players whose IPL performances are better. It’s an interesting list. More on that later.

A look at the actual samples

First, we look at the T20I records.

(I haven’t considered bowlers from the teams that play mostly with associate nations because it distorts the sample). These are the outstanding bowlers in International T20 History


The highest average, economy, and strike rate in this list are 18.35, 7.52, and 16.8 respectively. Everyone is below that. Kuldeep Yadav is at the moment taking a wicket every 11.6 balls, conceding only 7.11 per over and averaging 13.76 per wicket. No one, at the moment has a better strike rate or a better average.

These are the very good bowlers in T20I history:


Here, the averages are between 18.82 & 20.62, the economy rates are between 5.7 & 8.59, and the strike rate is between 13.1 & 20.7. Williams strikes more frequently but is more expensive. Vettori was very economical but strike rate was as high as 20.7. Someone like Starc has a strike rate of 16.9 and a low economy rate of 6.9.

The above-average bowlers:

Here, the averages are between 20.79 & 22.38, the economy rates are between 6.01 & 8.87, and the strike rate is between 14.8 & 21.7. Narine is the most economical in this list, and Tye is the most uneconomical. However, Tye strikes every 14.8 balls to make up for it. Imad Wasim is at the higher end of the SR spectrum, but his economy is very good at 6.15.

The below-average performers:


Here, the averages are between 22.7 & 25.68, the economy rates are between 6.2 & 8.66, and the strike rate is between 17.1 & 24.4.

Harbhajan is the most economical here, but his strike rate is poor at 24.4.  Jordan has a very good strike rate (17.1), but his economy (8.66) is poor.

 Poor and abysmal performers:

For the poor performers:

The averages are between 26.15 & 29.53, the economy rates are between 7.04 & 8.71, and the strike rate is between 18 & 24.9.

Bhuvaneshwar has the best economy, Dernbach the best SR and Taylor the best average.

Dernbach has the worst economy, Jadeja the worst SR and also the worst average.

The abysmal is the bottom-most category of players who have taken a lot of wickets. It’s a relative term, not an absolute one.

The averages are between 31.07 & 37.46, the economy rates are between 6.87 & 9.3, and the strike rate is between 20.2 & 28.8.

A prominent name here is Russell, whose IPL performance with the ball is very different.

 Economy rates can be very misleading. A bowler needs strike power to be effective in this form. However, most bowlers with high strike rate also have a decent economy. 

We now look at IPL performances

These are the outstanding IPL bowlers in its 12-year history

The economy rates are between 6.57 & 8.30, and the strike rate is between 15.23 & 20.32.

The best economy rate is that of Rashid Khan and Andrew Tye is at 8.3 (the other end of the spectrum). The best striker is Tye, followed by Imran Tahir. The weakest striker in this list is Rashid Khan. He is tight and effective, but taking wickets less frequently. Maybe the batsmen are playing him more carefully.

Some unexpected names here – Munaf Patel, Sreenath Aravind and Shreyas Gopal. They have been striking well and there are a lot of wickets between them.

The very good bowlers in IPL history:


The economy rates are between 6.57 & 8.49 (almost the same as the outstanding group), and the strike rate is between 17.59 & 22.18. The SR is about two deliveries more.

The best strikers in this group are Dwayne Bravo and McClenaghan, and both are among the most uneconomical in this group. The most economical are Anil Kumble, Narine, and Dale Steyn. Steyn, who has an extraordinary strike rate in Tests, is not striking well in IPL (relatively speaking). Like Rashid Khan, Narine seems to be encountering batsmen who prefer to play him out.

 The next lot of above-average bowlers is fairly long:

The economy rates are between 6.67 & 8.86 (only a bit behind the earlier group), and the strike rate is between 18.64 & 24.19. The SR is separating the two groups again

Murali had the best economy rate and the worst strike rate here. Russell is just the opposite – the best strike rate and the worst economy rate.

 Below Average Performers:

The economy rates are between 6.78 & 9.2 (a bit further behind the earlier group), and the strike rate is between 19.63 & 27.75. The SR is also significantly behind the earlier group

Daniel Vettori had the worst strike rate here, Shardul Thakur the best. Vettori had the best economy (as good as the ones in the outstanding group), and Pandya the worst.

The final two groups:


The strike rates keep getting worse, as does the economy rate. Some prominent names here are Tim Southie, Shami, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan. Just didn’t get the required striking ability.

Comparing IPL performance

As is evident above, most players performed better at T20I as compared to IPL. However, the degree of difference varies, and some have done the reverse.

From the sample, I took 29 players (randomly), who have played a substantial number of matches for both their countries and at IPL.

72% had a superior T20I record and 28% had a superior IPL Record. The table summarizes the key observations.


Andre Russell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Chahal and Malinga have done exceptionally better for their IPL sides when compared to how they performed for the country.

On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, James Faulkner, Daniel Vettori, Imran Tahir, and Dale Steyn have done exceptionally better when playing for their countries.

A word of caution: These metrics are useful in quickly benchmarking a performance. It doesn't answer everything. It is also advisable to use this only if the bowler has played at least 25 matches or so.















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