Cricket is a contest between the batters and the bowlers. The batters are tasked with scoring runs whereas the bowlers have to restrict the flow of runs and dismiss the batters out. The team that scores the most runs at the end of the match is declared the winner. Cricket features many tournaments at international and domestic level where more than one team participate.
Based on each team’s performance, their standing in the tournament is determined. Based on this standing, a team’s chances of winning the event are reflected. However, there are instances when two sides are tied at the same number of points in the standings. At this juncture, different tournaments have different statistics which they consider to act as a tiebreaker.
The runs per wicket ratio or the quotient is one such statistic.The runs per wicket ratio was first used in the early 1910s. It is calculated as a ratio of two independent calculations. First, the total runs scored by the team for every wicket is calculated. Next, the total runs the same team conceded for every wicket they took is calculated. Finally, the ratio of both these calculations gives the runs per wicket ratio.
For example, say a team scores 200 runs and loses four wicket, it means they have scored 50 runs for every wicket lost. Now, if the same team concedes 280 runs and takes seven wickets, then they have given 40 runs for every wicket they took. Thus, the runs per wicket ratio is 50/40 = 1.25.
A runs per wicket ratio of more than 1 means the team has scored better per wicket than the runs they conceded. If this number is less than 1, it infers that they have scored less runs per wicket compared to the opposition.
The runs per wicket ratio has major drawback. This statistic is not accurate and definitive of determining a team’s actual performance. A disadvantage of the runs per wicket ratio is that it is not accurate and cannot firmly establish the performance of a team.
The runs per wicket ratio has been used in Sheffield Shield, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and recently in the ICC World Test Championship (2019-21).
