Ask the Spider #53

What’s the highest ODI total conceded after winning the toss and choosing to field?

The top four in this list all involve teams which render the granting of ODI status to the match questionable – Bermuda (against India); Ireland (against New Zealand); Kenya (against Sri Lanka); and Zimbabwe (again against New Zealand). Bermuda conceded 413, but the highest in a genuine ODI between serious teams was conceded by Pakistan against South Africa at the small, high-altitude ground at Centurion Park in 2006/07 – 392. England also saw India ransack 387 at an even more minute ground in Rajkot earlier this season.

And what about the highest successfully chased after winning the toss and choosing to field?

This was achieved by New Zealand in 2006/07 at Eden Park, Auckland against Australia. After Stephen Fleming put the tourists in, they amassed 336 to apparently make his decision look rather foolish. But Fleming knew his team was happiest chasing and they duly romped home by five wickets with a full 1.2 overs to spare, finishing with 340. They also hold the second-highest total to fit this description, 332, and again it was achieved in a home match against Australia, this time in 2005/06 at Christchurch’s Jade Stadium.

What is the average ODI score made by Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies against Bangladesh, Bermuda, Canada, East Africa, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, Holland, Scotland, UAE and USA when batting first?

It’s 303, made over a course of 123 games so far where the overwhelmingly stronger side has batted first.

What run-rate does this equate to (as not all these innings’ involved 50 overs)?

5.77-an-over.

And how does this compare to the average against each other?

The average run-rate (per six balls) is 4.7-an-over. This means the increase is 22.8% when it’s a serious team against a fill-in team.

And what is the average total the above named teams have bowled the above named opposition out for when fielding first?

160, in 130 games so far.

What run-rate does this equate to?

3.64-an-over – which is perhaps rather higher than might be expected.

And how does this compare to the average against each other?

3.64-an-over is a 29.1% reduction on 4.7-an-over.