A Method to Measure Strangling, a Dramatic Form of Choking in Cricket

Abstract

In limited overs cricket, the team batting first sets a target for the team batting second. The latter team may win the match, draw the match or lose it by not reaching the target. Various scenarios of losing are possible; e.g. simply not reaching the target, or some form of choking after being in a strong position. In this study we consider the situation where a team batting second in a limited overs cricket match needs to score only a few more runs with many balls still to be bowled, but is bowled out. This phenomenon is called ‘strangling’ because the bowling team succeeded in bowling their opponents, who were in a strong batting position, all out – they have strangled them. A criterion is proposed to measure the severity of strangling. The measure is based on the strength of the batting team just before this disaster struck.