Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics - “How are YOU doing?”.

Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics

There is a far amount of stuff that have come out of my keyboard and Paul Reynold’s statistics this week. First off, a quick look at how last year’s fantasy points leaders are doing the year after their annus mirabilis [note to self – check spelling and not just on Google] 2011.

Last year’s winner (of a non-existent competition) would have been S. Saharen of Merrion. His tally of 694 runs (including a highest score of 196), 49 wickets and 12 catches saw him reach 2,234 points. (Ed - You would have thought he would have played one more game, anywhere anytime, which surely would have seen him reach the 700/50 double). Mr. Saharen’s 21^st place so far this season might seem an anti-climax, but 248 runs and 27 wickets would be considered an excellent return in most other seasons.

Second placed in 2011, V Gopal of Clontarf has slipped to 186^th on the 2012 list, but has, it must be noted, also played only 16 games, compared to his 27 last season. His batting average has been raised 7 runs from 31 to 38.

The rest of the top 10 last year fantasy leaders and how they are doing this season.

And who has made the biggest strides up the table? Who is having their annus mirabilis in 2012? Will they be able to maintain it next season?

It is great to see youngsters in the list. Ian Anders reached this list on the back of a fine innings despite the best efforts of Pembroke 6’s captain last Sunday and it is to be expected he will rise through the Phoenix sides as he continues to develop. A fine player and one to watch in the future. In Pembroke, Harry Balbirnie has proved a real boon to the top sides, whilst Robin Kelly made it from 1,846^th last year to the Under 19 World Cup currently taking place in Australia. J. Toor of Adamstown has made it to the top 6 overall and every place gained at this top end of the table is hard earned.

Finally in our comparison of 2011 and 2012, who is having their own personal annus horribilis. Which players have fallen the furthest down the list? Well, having looked at the names and figures, it seems unfair to single out players in this category. Many have fallen due to their unavailability as much as any other reasons. Suffice to say, the largest drop in ranking is 1,800 plus places. Two of last seasons top 10 are now in this group. Let’s hope we see them and everyone returning to the field of play more often next season.

There is no change to the top of this season’s leader board with R. Meraj of Laois still leading despite no game last weekend. R. Nair (Dundrum) remains in second place, but moving from 12^th to 3^rd is Jack Tector (YMCA) with a 322 point gain. An amazing game, a double header or the late arrival of scorecards, any could be the reason, but whatever it is, it is a feat worth mentioning. 39 players now have over 1,000 points.

Perhaps the LCU or a club, might consider holding an “All-Star” game as a charity / fundraising event at the end of the season or as a pre-season curtain raiser in 2013. One 40 over match held between the top available 22 players on the fantasy table. Would many want to play? How many would come and support their club colleagues? Would it be a possible social function where we can bring together lots of members of different clubs? An end of season gathering of the clans? Would it be prestigious to gain a playing invite to such an event? Would the Captains for the event to be the top 2 points scorers over the course of a season? Would it enable provincial selectors to view talent they might not normally see? What are your views?

Overall, 161,938 runs have been scored, and it looks like 2012 will fall short of 2011’s final total of 227,009 runs. My prediction is (usually rubbish) that total runs this season will fall below 200,000. This season however, wickets again I predict (watch out Paddy Power), will come in very close to last years 11,502 and currently it is at 9,597. Catches as well look, to me, to be on course to just fall short of last years total (4,261) with 3,418 taken so far. Stumpings however, could easily exactly match last season’s 265 as 221 have been taken to date. The loss of Rohit Bahl from Pembroke will not help.

Finally for this week, club by club, leading points scorers and by how much they lead the next highest point scorer in their club. The closest between first and second occurs in Civil Service where M. Siddique is only 2 points behind club leader, R. Mehta. Biggest gap is at Dundalk where A. Williams is a whopping 63% ahead of club colleague, A. Shah.

The full list of Club leaders is:

Many thanks for reading this far, I do know it can be a job to wade through all these figures sometimes. As usual the table of all player’s statistics is available from craig@cricket.ie or alternatively you may wish to receive only a subset, i.e an individual or a club’s figures or only players who have scored between 200 and 220 runs and taken more than 21 wickets but less than 23, your choice.