The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[sussexpob]

Alfie's suggestion about calculating over rates with DRS delays included is a sound one, it feels a little bizarre that the true over rate (not the one Sky uses) remove drinks breaks and fall of wickets from their equations, but not DRS breaks, which probably contribute as much, if not more lost time. This would be an easy stat to compute.

BUT......

The real key to this topic is the false assumption that over-rates have been reduced, which evidence does not support. It is somewhat an unprovable nostalgic myth to assume that over rates have declined. Its impossible to track "over-rates" through history as a pure stat, but if you isolate number of overs bowled per match, and take into account the requirement of 6 hours play has been consistent in the rules, you actually find a slight and gradual increase in the number of overs bowled per test since 1980.

The number declined significantly at that point, but there is an acute difference - the 6 ball over was implemented across all countries in the winter of 1979-80, along with the every session drinks break. 90 minutes was therefore instantly lost to drinks breaks - while the drop in overs per match equated to roughly 30 overs. It seems natural to assume the extra 5 overs lost aside from time for a drinks break to be included, could be accounted for less bowling changes/change of ends... which in practice, only had a difference of about 1 over per day give or take a decimal. Over-rates before 1979 are calculated based on the number balls being divided by 6... so of course, 8 ball overs with less changes of end will be quicker, its just natural. Looking at the last Ashes series played in the late 70s in Australia, and very roughly calculating it using proportion of total score/end of a days play, you get nowhere near 90 overs a day. Estimated to be about 60-65.

You could still then make the case that over rates particularly going back to the Bradman era and then past the WWII and into the 50-60-70s were higher.... why could that be? Well, there are two possible reasons you could isolate.

Run rates - The short answer is, the data shows a very clear link between over rates and scoring rates.

The 1940s and 1980s are comparable in overs bowled per game, and 1940s is the era in test cricket with the highest batting averages and well ahead of its time in scoring rates. This changed abruptly as the 1950s-70s becomes the slowest scoring rates of any era, weighted from earliest to latest.... over rates pretty much mirror this. In the 50s they were rattling off overs better than ever, but scoring rates of only 35 per 100 balls. Over time, scoring rates in that 30 year period after 1950 gradually rise, and there is a proportional and consistent drop in over rates to meet it.

The statistical outliers in the data set are all post 2000. The increase in SRs are not accounted for drops in bowling rates expected through the data set in history. So interestingly, despite there being a very obvious link between high scoring and the fact that the ball being constantly hit the boundary takes longer than if it hits the wicket keepers hands and instantly sent back, this seems to be made up in the modern day by an inclination to get on with it.

Left Handed batters - Another interesting statistical narrative you find in the data set - the increased proportion of left handers seems to effect over rates. It goes without saying that if you have a left hander batting with a right hander, every single facilitates a complete mirror field with players in the outfield having to make up potentially 50 meters of ground between every ball. Era's with more left handers as a percentage of players, also seem to show less over rates.

[sussexpob]

In short, I think in terms of truly lost time that is down to the control of the field, you could make the case that with DRS and other factors, the culture and rules making it punishable to get on with it may largely make up a lot of the "lost" time through various reasons, but obviously if you are looking at TV replays for 20 minutes a day, you will lose overs.. and you will lose overs if 2 runs more are being scored per over than not. There isn't much you can do about it. Its just the nature of the game.

The only thing that I think does really annoy me, is scheduling. And that is the boards and the ICC's fault, not the bowling team. Why for instance were England and Pakistan starting a day's play last winter where 90 overs was a physical impossibility? Unless both teams sprinted back to their mark for 6 hours a day, twilight came after 75 overs.... it seems insanity to have a test series scheduled where the 6 hours require play could not be repeated.

I remember back in the 90s, we played till we had 90 overs bowled. If that was 19h15, so be it. They don't do that anymore, simply because there is so much bloody cricket, players would meltdown playing 8 hour days, when asked to play 5 games in 5 weeks. Here is an idea.... why not play less games for the greed of generating money, and concentrate on the matches you do play? Unbowled overs should literally NEVER happen where light and weather permit... literally never.

[sussexpob]

Obviously another big time waster is concussion protocols. Every helmet hit requiring a medical assessment and new lid is at least an over wasted everyday.

I am not convinced there is much we can do with DRS and the like to get the game quicker.... but if not, rather than implement some nonsense over rate penalties which are vague and don't take into account a lot of context, why not just implement a US Sports style shot clock type affair - 30 second counter when the ball is dead to get the next ball off. Maybe 1 timeout a session for one minute if a captain wants a quick chat. Eradicating any infractions on the field from coaching staff bringing batsman gloves for a chat. Put a batsman's water bottle behind the stumps rather than run it out wasting 6 minutes.

[Durhamfootman]

Agreed. There may be lots of reasons slowing down the number of overs bowled, but there is no excuse to not keep playing until 90 overs have been bowled.

To go back to the Pakistan series, I can remember, a number of years ago, umpire Bucknor signalling for a drinks break an hour after tea, despite the full and certain knowledge that the light was only going to last another 15 mins. Bonkers!

I go back again to the Dobell idea.... tell the cricket boards that they have to refund the percentage of the ticket price represented by the lost overs immediately after close of play. It's easy to do because almost every ticket is bought online using a card. He believes... and I agree with him.... that it would solve the problem overnight. They'd make damned sure, from day one, that no overs were lost to anything other than weather/bad light

Currently nobody is really that bothered about fines and I'm pretty certain that no-one is really bothered about WTC points.... not really..... so the only way to affect change is to hit the cricket boards in the pocket directly. Ashes cricket might very well cost the punter £100 a ticket. If the ECB had to immediately refund 15,000 people at OT £10 each because only 81 overs were bowled in a day, I can pretty much guarantee that the next day 90 overs would be bowled, come hell or high water

[Durhamfootman]

and despite all the new things slowing the game down, there is still an awful lot of farting about in the field, discussing this, changing that, running up for another word with the bowler...... and large parts of every day seem to have a complete absence of urgency about them

[Slipstream]

96 no balls bowled - that must take extra time
concussion tests - they have the test and then helmets have to be changed, doesn't happen at the same time.
DRS
Asking the umpire if the ball can be changed - sometimes involves both umpires
Umpires changing the ball
Movement behind the sight screen
Sightscreen not working
Replays to see if a fielder is clear of the boundary, or fielder has taken a low catch.
Drinks brought out with gloves or bat
Batsmen not ready when the bowler running in.
Bowler's footholes that need the trumper brought out
Physio coming out and spending too long on injuries

Start at 10.30 and finish when 90 overs have been bowled. If not the umpires to be fined as they are in charge of the game.