Impress your friends by casually dropping Ireland’s net run rate requirements into the water cooler conversation
It’s the cricket equivalent of goal difference and could decide who qualifies from Pool B, so what exactly is net run rate, how is it calculated and what does it mean for Ireland’s World Cup chances?
The boys in green suffered a heavy defeat against South Africa this morning, and while there is no shame in losing to one of the tournament favourites, the 201-run margin of victory could yet prove costly as it dropped Ireland Net Run Rate from +0.34 to -1.14. With Ireland in the midst of a tight battle for one of the four quarter-final places up for grabs in Pool B, every run could be vital.
What is it?
Simply put, it’s the difference in the average runs per over scored by a team’s batting line-up versus the average runs per over scored by the opposition throughout the tournament. The number of wickets lost or taken in an innings has no effect on the calculation.
How is it calculated?
Using the below example:
Team A: 300/5 from 50 overs
Team B: 302/7 from 46 overs
Team A has scored exactly six runs an over, while Team B chased down the target with four overs to spare, at a rate of 6.56 runs per over, leaving them with net rates of -0.56 and +0.56 respectively.
Let’s move it forward to each team’s next game, first Team A:
Team C: 289/7 from 50 overs
Team A: 290/4 from 38 overs
These scores are added to Team A’s previous totals to calculate the updated net run rates. Over the two games, Team A has now scored a total of 590 runs from 88 overs, an average of 6.70 per over. They have conceded 591 in 96 overs for an average of 6.16, giving Team A a new Net Run Rate of +0.54.
In Team B’s next game:
Team B: 374/7 from 50 overs
Team D: 220 all out in 37.3 overs
Team B’s combined runs for now stands at 676 from 96 overs, a healthy 7.04 per over, but there’s a wrinkle when dealing with their runs against.
Team D were bowled out for 220 from 37.3 overs, a rate of 5.87 per over, but when a side is all out without completing its innings, its run rate is calculated as if they had played out their full allotment of 50 overs, in this case, 220 from 50 overs.
So, Team B is now given credit for conceding 520 runs from 100 overs instead of the 87.3 they actually bowled, for an average of 5.20 per over, giving them a Net Run Rate of +1.84.
How could it affect Ireland?
After beating West Indies and UAE, Ireland could conceivably have expected that victory over Zimbabwe might be enough to see them safely through to the quarter-finals on six points, but the Windies’ win over Pakistan complicated matters significantly.
With India and South Africa almost certainly set to advance to the last eight, there remains the distinct possibility that Ireland, West Indies and Pakistan could all finish on six points from their six games, leaving run rate to decide which of the three teams are sent home.
Here's how the Pool B table looks after today's match http://t.co/0s9rgDOtVM #BackingGreen pic.twitter.com/EyMOFx6ByQ
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) March 3, 2015
As the table above shows, the hit dealt to Ireland’s run rate today dropped them below West Indies’ -0.31 but some vital late runs kept them ahead of Pakistan’s -1.37, who Ireland face in what is shaping up to be a decisive final pool game next week.
Before that, however, those figures could change quickly with both the Windies and Pakistan still to play UAE and Ireland facing the unbeaten Indians.
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