| Cricket fans or those who watch multi-team | | | | number of overs (50 for a one-day game or 20 for a |
| tournaments would be familiar with the Net Run Rate. | | | | T20 game). |
| They know that the NRR is a tie-decider and that it | | | | == Calculate the run rate FOR == |
| is better to have a positive, high Net RR than a low | | | | > Against South Africa: 247 all out off 50 overs (49.2 |
| or negative Net RR. What the fans might not know | | | | overs and two ball becomes 50 since the W.I. were |
| is exactly how the net run rate is calculated, although | | | | bowled out) |
| they know that it has something to do with the rate | | | | > Against India: 289 all out off 50 overs (48.1 overs |
| at which runs are scored. | | | | becomes 50) |
| To be more precise, the Net RR factors the runs | | | | In aggregate, the West Indies scored (247 + 289) |
| that a team scores against the runs that their | | | | runs off (50 + 50) overs = 536 runs/100 overs |
| opponents score against them. Naturally, in bilateral | | | | == Calculate the run rate AGAINST == |
| series this is meaningless, but when three or more | | | | > Against South Africa: 249/8 off 50 overs |
| teams are involved, the NRR is critical. In the ICC | | | | > Against India: 240 all out off 46 overs (the innings |
| World Cup, some teams failed to advance because | | | | was reduced, but India were bowled out before the |
| of their NRR. | | | | allotment of 46 overs) |
| == Step by step == | | | | In aggregate, the West Indies' opponents scored |
| The steps for calculating the NRR are as follows: | | | | (249 + 240) runs off (50 + 46) overs = 489 runs/96 |
| 1. Calculate the aggregate runs scored by the team | | | | overs |
| 2. Determine the number of overs used by the team | | | | == Determine the Run Rate FOR == |
| in scoring | | | | The RR FOR = Total runs scored/ Aggregate overs |
| 3. Calculate the aggregate runs scored against the | | | | (for) = 536/100 = 5.36 |
| team | | | | == Determine the Run Rate AGAINST == |
| 4. Determine the number of overs opponents used | | | | The RR AGAINST = Total runs against/Aggregate |
| 5. Find the Run Rate FOR | | | | overs (against) = 489/96 = 5.093 |
| 6. Find the Run Rate AGAINST | | | | == Calculate NRR == |
| 7. Subtract the Run Rate AGAINST from the Run | | | | The NRR is the difference between the RR FOR and |
| Rate FOR | | | | AGAINST in that order. Hence, the formula is |
| Let us assume that the West Indies played two ODI | | | | precisely: RR FOR - RR AGAINST |
| matches against South Africa and India in a World | | | | The West Indies' NRR is therefore 5.36 - 5.093 = + |
| Cup. The runs scored were as follows: | | | | 0.267 |
| 1st match: South Africa 249/8 (50 overs); West | | | | == Overview == |
| Indies 247 all out (49.2 overs) | | | | It is important to note that the number of wickets |
| 2nd match: West Indies 289 all out (48.1 overs); India | | | | lost is not relevant to the NRR calculation. NRRs |
| 240 all out (44.1 overs/ India's innings reduced to 46 | | | | would also be preceded by a plus (+) or minus (-) |
| overs for rain interruptions D/L method) | | | | sign to denote whether the NRR is positive or |
| Before we continue, note that when a team is | | | | negative. A team that has a NRR of -1.178 is in a |
| bowled out before the allotted overs (50 in these | | | | much worse position than a team with +0.01. Higher |
| examples), they are assumed to have batted their | | | | NRRs help teams to triumph in tiebreakers. The way |
| full allotment for purposes of the calculation. In the | | | | it is calculated is the reason for commentators |
| case where reduced overs are played, then the full | | | | emphasizing how important it is to avoid being |
| allotment would be that number and not the full | | | | dismissed before the allotment of overs as well. |