Pressure Index in Cricket

Usually, evaluation of individual player performances in one-day cricket has been based on measures such as batting and bowling averages, and strike and economy rates. It is accepted, within the game of cricket, that such measures have severe limitations in assessing the true performances and abilities of players. Whenever a player's performance statistics are quoted, there is nearly always some verbal prerequisite that is necessary in order to place the statistics into context. Such comments include the stage of an innings a player usually bats or bowls, as this significantly affects a player's opportunity for scoring runs or taking wickets. Further, traditional measures do not allow the comparison of the skills of batting and bowling as they are based on incompatible scales. We have developed a new measure - Pressure Index. It measures the pressure under which the team is playing or a batsman is batting. Variables such runs scored, runs left, wickets, balls faced and balls left are considered for developing this new measure. Runs scored under more pressure are more valuable than runs scored under very less pressure. With this Pressure index actual performance of the batsman can be measured. Similar measure can be developed for bowlers.