Fantasy Leader is Simon Rice

This week we went in search of the week’s statistical column from the usual scribe of statistics, the doyen of data, the anally retentive analyser and the idiot of investigation, craig@cricket.ie. He is not to be confused with the real experts of everything statistical relating to Cricket Leinster, Paul Reynolds, Eddie Lewis and Gerry Byrne. He only stands on the shoulders of giants, but can offer a glimpse past the headlines and into the depths of club cricket in Leinster.

We found Craig sobbing quietly in a darkened room with only the glow of a laptop screen illuminating. The only food we could see was untouched cricket teas, sandwiches curling up, nearly ready for re-sale on the Dublin to Killarney rail line. Empty cups bore the stains of tea, brown lines marking the previous level of cold brown liquid. The humidity was provided by radiators draped in unwashed and now crusty cricket whites, damp towels and socks. Socks, that were once possibly white, but now had the appearance of a summer’s day in Dublin, grey and overcast. The walls were covered in what at first glance seemed to be the childish scribbling of a pre-primary school child, but upon closer inspection were actually printed out result cards with notes made in crayon and a copy of an examination paper. That Paper is re-produced here.

We took Craig from this room and led him blinking into real sunlight (you can tell this is fantasy!). Squinting, he quickly put on his sunglasses and cap and he gradually readjusted to reality. It was a slow process, when you have been dealing with nothing but fantasy for any period of time, the jump back to reality is harsh and unwelcome. Just ask Glen Quagmire.

Once reality had poked its ugly head back around the corner we took our statistician to Starbucks (or any other similar coffee shop, branded or family run), sat him down, fed him copious amounts of caffeine laden coffee and asked about this week’s figures and leading players. What follows is the result of that meeting.

This week, Craig’s calculations show Simon Rice [Greystones] becoming the new overall leader with 1,115 points. In his 17 matches to date, he has a Leinster-leading 32 wickets, with a best bowling of 5 for 3, and 175 runs and 10 catches. Last week’s leader, I. Smillie [Clontarf], we have been notified, has now been made captain of his club’s Third XI, which will reduce his opportunities to score points dramatically. The top 11 performers this week are:  

Overall Leader Board XI

Simon Rice also makes the “team-of-the-week” with a total of 203 points this week, but Colm Reilly [Balbriggan] had the best week with 252 points, which alone would see him ahead of 1,306 players on the overall table. The rest of the week’s top performers are:

Team-of-the-Week XI

L. Jansen [Rush] leads the run scorers with 561 runs. It would be interesting to see how many of these runs have been scored in his home ground. However, one can not take anything away from an average of over 80, 3 centuries and 1 fifty in addition to a highest score of 162. C. McLoughlin [The Hills] with 523 runs remains in touch and also has passed the 500 runs barrier, with 2 centuries and 3 fifties. Third with 499 runs is the consistent H. Tanveer [Civil Service] with an average of 49.90 and 4 fifties. A. Mathew [Dundrum] has batted in each of his 13 appearances and has yet to record a not out in his 368 runs.

Simon Rice [Greystones] leads the wicket takers with 32, with a respectable average of just over 11. Two Michelle’s (“five for” / “Michelle Pheiffer”), in 99 overs and averaging over three wickets per game. Diarmaid Tucker [Pembroke] remains on the podium with 27 wickets and his best bowling of 5/26. Third is I. Smillie [Clontarf] and T. Stanton [Merrion] who both have 24 wickets. P. Green [Civil Service] has the unenviable record of highest runs per over with 14 runs from 3 balls and an economy rate of 28 runs per over. At the other extreme, C. Keane [Sandyford] has one maiden for his one over and an economy rate of 0.00. T. Monahan’s [Wexford Wanderers] average of 0.00 from one ball, one wicket looks unlikely to be equalled at this stage. Whilst S. Cassidy’s [Leinster] average of 329.00 could be hard to beat, not that you would want to. That said if Mr. Cassidy takes a second wicket this season his average could come crashing down. 14 players still have an average over 100.

Catches win matches, but also prove to be a valuable source of fantasy points. Robert Forrest [Clontarf] has the most with 13, one ahead of J. Grassi [North County] and J. Kerrison [Leinster]. Stumpings are led by two players with five each, Mick Dwyer [The Hills] and R. Watkins [Merrion]. When catches and stumpings are combined the leader is J. Kerrison [Leinster] with 15 (12ct & 3st).

As usual, you may request figures for you, your club or for the whole of Leinster by emailing craig@cricket.ie

Who are the top ranked players in YOUR club? We take the entirely arbitrary method of listing the top three point scorers from each Club, no matter how many players or teams the Club runs, or even which level they play.

And with that Craig was led back into his darkened room, the door shut and locked for another week.