An analysis of the eciency of player performance at the 2011 Cricket World Cup

Abstract

In limited overs cricket, eciency plays a signicant role in team success. Batsmen especially are under pressure to score quickly rather than in large quantities because only 50 overs are available per innings. This paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA) to assess the eciency with which players at the 2011 Cricket World Cup converted inputs (balls faced or bowled) into performance outputs. The eect that non-discretionary variables like the cricketing resources available to a player have on his eciency is controlled for, allowing for a fairer assessment across players from dierent countries.

Key words: Performance evaluation, data envelopment analysis, simulation modelling, cricket, tour- nament.