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18. Net Run Rate

As is now common in world one day cricket, Battrick uses something called Net Run Rate (NRR) to separate sides level on points in our OD league competition:

The following is how it is described within the rules of the actual game:
A team's net run rate is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team, the average runs per over scored against that team.

In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs to which it would have been entitled and not on the number of overs in which the team was dismissed.


Back with us? Good! Now let's try and explain that with a slightly more step by step approach.

A teams run rate is their total number of runs divided by overs faced. Now as an over is six balls if an over isn't completed then you need to do a little calculation to find what to divide by.

For example: 40.1 is actually 40 overs and one sixth of an over. Thus, for the purpose of the run rate calculation, the team has faced 40 + 1/6 = 40.167 (3 d.p.) overs.

If another ball is bowled, they have now faced 40 + 2/6 = 40.333 (3 d.p.) overs. After the next ball (40.3 in normal terms) it's the more user friendly 40.5 as we're halfway through the over.

So if a team scores 250 runs off 50 overs then their run rate is 250/50 = 5. If they got that same score off 47.3 overs, there RR would be 250 / 47.5

Net Run Rate simply involves taking your opponents final run rate away from your own total run rate. The only slight exception is that now, if a team is bowled out, it is not the balls faced which their score is divided by; instead the full fifty over quota is used.

Here are a few scenarios:

1. Side that bats first wins
  • Team A bats first and sets a target of 287-6 off their full quota of fifty overs. Team B fails in their run chase, early losses causing them to struggle to 243-9
  • Team A's run rate is 287 / 50 = 5.74
  • Team B's run rate is 243 / 50 = 4.86
  • Team A's NRR for this game is 5.74 - 4.86 = 0.88 . If this was the first game of the season, their NRR for the league table would be +0.88
  • Team B's NRR for this game is 4.86 - 5.74 = -0.88 . If this was the first game of the season, their NRR for the league table would be -0.88

2. Side that bats second wins
  • Team A bats first and sets a target of 265-8 off their full quota of fifty overs. Team B successfully chases, getting their winning runs with a four with sixteen balls remaining, leaving them on 267-5
  • Team A's run rate is 265 / 50 = 5.12
  • Team B faced 47.2 overs and so their run rate is 267 / 47.333... = 5.64084... = 5.64 (2 d.p.)
  • Therefore Team A's net run rate for this game is 5.12 - 5.64084... = -0.52084... . If their net run rate for this season was previous +1.52 it is now +0.99916... = +1.00
  • Therefore Team B's net run rate for this game is 5.64084... - 5.12 = +0.52084... . If their net run rate for this season was coincidentally also previously +1.52 it is now = +2.04

3. Side that bats first is bowled out. Side batting second wins.
  • Team A bat first and are skittled out for 127 off 25.4 overs. Team B reaches the target for the loss of four wickets off 25.5 overs.
  • Despite Team A's run rate for the balls they faced being 127 / 24.667 = 5.19 (2dp) because they were bowled out their run rate is worked out over the 50 over quote; 127 / 50 = 2.54
  • Team B actually scored at a slower pace, however they managed to protect their wickets. Therefore they use their balls faced run rate; 128 / 25.833 = 4.95 (2 dp)
  • Team A's NRR for this match is 2.54 - 4.95 = -2.41 and would be added (adding a minus to a positive having the effect of subtracting) to their seasons NRR.
  • Team B's NRR for the match is 4.95 - 2.54 = +2.41 and would be added to their seasons NRR.

4. Side that bats second is bowled out. Side batting first wins.
  • Team A bat first and set a formidable 295-7 off their compliment of 50 overs. Team B never gets close, being bowled out for 184 off 35.4 overs.
  • Team A's run rate is 295 / 50 = 5.9
  • Team B's run rate is taken over 50 overs as they were bowled out; 184 / 50 = 3.68
  • Team A's NRR for this match is 5.9 - 3.68 = +2.22 and would be added to their seasons NRR.
  • Team B's NRR for the match is 3.68 - 5.9 = -2.22 and would be added to their seasons NRR.

5. Both sides are bowled out, the team batting first therefore taking the points.
  • Team A bat first manage 117 off 24 overs on a testing track. Team B fall agonizingly short, reaching 112 off 23.3 overs.
  • As they were bowled out Team A's run rate is 117 / 50 = 2.34 (2dp)
  • As Team B were also bowled out their run rate is 112 / 50 = 2.24 (2dp)
  • Team A's NRR for this match is 2.34 - 2.24 = +0.10 and would be added to their seasons NRR.
  • Team B's NRR for the match is 2.24 - 2.34 = -0.10 and would be added to their seasons NRR.

Obviously in a tied game the teams run rates are equal and so the teams NRR for that season would be unaffected.

Please Note: the Battrick engine stores run rate and net run rate figures to many more decimal places than used here in these examples.