Ahmedabad: Has the influence of Twenty20 cricket resulted in an increase in runs scored per over? A statistical study reveals that the runs per over in this World Cup is 5.07, which is the highest so far among the 10 World Cups.
This shattered the 2007 tournament's record for the highest run rate per over with 4.95. Which means, on an average spectators have been able to watch nearly 250 runs being scored per innings.
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, when asked about the impact of 50 over cricket's popularity, said: "For the first time we have recorded five runs an over in a World Cup and it has been due to the influence of Twenty20 cricket. This World Cup has also proved that the popularity of fifty-over cricket has not dwindled in any way, and so all three formats (Test, One-day and Twenty20) will co-exist."
Incidentally the average run rate in which Test playing nations played each other has been 5.12, which means the run rate did not go up overall due to the presence of four minnows.
"The fact that even for matches involving minnows in most centres, the tickets were sold out. Television ratings have also been an all-time high, and we have to say that this is the World Cup which has been watched by the maximum number of people," added Lorgat.
As per the statistics before the India-Australia match, 20 centuries have already been scored. In fact, this World Cup will also break the 2003 World Cup edition record of 21 centuries. Indian wickets have produced 300-plus runs 12 times followed by Sri Lanka which had four times. Bangladesh produced only one match with more than 300 runs.
By the end of the World Cup, it looks as if almost all team records would be shattered.
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