Topics Covered:
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Superstats- a new metrics to analyse the game of cricket
What to study?
For Prelims and Mains: Superstats- features, significance and need.
Context: Superstats, a new metrics to analyse the game of cricket, has been launched by ESPNcricinfo in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
What is Superstats?
Superstats is a combination of stats metrics – Luck Index, Forecaster and Smart Stats that uses Data Science for the first time to give a context to every event in a game and also venture into new territories such as luck and forecasting.
- These metrics have been derived from ESPNcricinfo’s rich ball-by-ball database, and from complex algorithms developed by IIT Madras and Gyan Data, an IIT-M incubated company.
Components of Superstats:
- Smart Stats:
Smart Stats, launched at first as a standalone tool in 2018, is a suite of metrics that help fans judge performances in limited-overs cricket, especially the T20s, in a far more nuanced manner than conventional metrics do. It takes into account the context to every performance, batting and bowling. Context includes pitch conditions, quality of opposition, and match situation – in terms of the pressure on the player. In its new avatar, Smart Stats has added metrics such as Smart Wickets, Player Quality Index and Pressure Indices, to cover all facets of the game.
- Luck Index:
What is Luck Index?
Luck Index is a metric that quantifies luck. This is done by identifying every lucky event that happens in a match, and then calculating, through a complex algorithm, the run value of that event.
- How does the Forecaster work?
The following factors are taken into account when calculating the predicted score:
- Batting strength of the team (including batsmen to follow, at every stage of the innings).
- Bowling strength of opposition.
- Batsman v bowler head-to-head numbers.
- Phase-wise strike rates and economy rates for batsmen and bowlers.
Based on these factors, there is an expected score for the batting team at every stage. The win percentage for the chasing team also takes into account the team momentum (runs and wickets off the last six balls), and the historical probability of teams winning from that position. Apart from the win probability and expected score, the Forecaster also predicts the runs and wicket probability in the next over for each bowler in the opposition attack.
Significance:
In the era of multiple formats and leagues, game of cricket needs to move beyond conventional measurement system such as economy rate, average and strike rate. The development of these new metrics filled a long-felt gap in evaluating cricket performances.
Sources: the hindu.
