Some thoughts on career averages

Traditionally in relation to Leinster Cricket we have looked at

1. Batsmen who are currently playing and have scored 2,000 runs plus at an average of 20.00 minimum.
2. Batsmen who irrespective of whether their careers have finished or not have scored at lest 5,000 runs and have achieved an averages of 22.00
3. Bowlers who are currently playing and have taken at least 200 wickets.
4. Bowlers who irrespective of whether their careers have finished or not have taken 500 wickets or more.
5. In all cases these figures would cover runs scored and wickets taken in what are or were at the relevant times Senior League, Senior Cup, Short League, Division 1 and Division 2

Since the year 2000 we find that batsmen’s performances have improved, perhaps due to a combination of improved coaching, better wickets, and more pressure on bowlers in that no longer can outstanding bowlers bowl half the overs in an innings. During the same period bowlers are restricted in terms of the number of overs they can bowl and are also suffering the contrary effect of the other issues, better wickets and improved coaching, so they are finding it perhaps more difficult to improve performances. They are also finding it much more difficult to reach the 200 and 500 wicket levels than batsmen are finding it to reach the 2,000 and 5,000 runs level. In effect therefore the balance between bat and ball has changed. 

An interesting factor at the end of 2013 is that on average bowlers close to 200 wickets are also below 1 wicket per match whereas batsmen who got to at or around 2000 runs are looking at an average of 25 to 30. Comparing this to the position in 1995, then 8 of the 30 in the current batting player list were at or below 22 and only 1 who had just reached that figure for the first time was close to 30. From the bowling viewpoint they were at that time somewhat over 1 to 1.25 or so wickets per match. Perhaps indicative of the different ways batsmen and bowlers have gone since then.

The time has now, it is felt, come to make some amendments to the manner in which we calculate career records for sending out at the end of each season to reflect some of these changes.  These are as follows:-

1. For current batsmen to be included in the records list they must have reached 3,000 runs at an average of 25.00.
2. For players to have their records included whether or not their careers are current or completed figures we will stick with the present figure of 5,000 and average of 22.00
3. For Bowlers we will stick with 200 wickets for those still playing.
4. For players to have their career records included irrespective of which their careers are concluded or not we will stick with 500 wickets also.
5. While the these figures would cover runs scored and wickets taken in what are or were at the relevant times Senior League, Senior Cup, Short League, Division 1 and Division 2, the other change being made is that for runs scored and wickets taken to be so taken into account, the player must be playing for a first XI in Divisions 1 and 2. Therefore runs scored in Division 2 for a Second XI will not be included in career records. However, as for many years teams which were first Elevens had their figures, runs or wickets, included irrespective of whether they were Section A or B or what is now Division 1 or 2, that will continue. 

It is anticipated that rather than the increasing length of batting lists and shortening of bowling lists which has been a feature of more recent years these lists will bear more of a reasonable resemblance to each other in terms of length.