Abstract:
Ranking of players is an important aspect of any sport. Player rankings are of concern
to sports authorities, the players and the enthusiasts and with commercialization of sports it is even
more important to the investors. This paper explores the factor analysis approach to rank players
in One Day International (ODI) cricket. The paper ranks batsmen and bowlers who have played
during the calendar year 2015. It uses a dynamic approach of generating factor scores on a match
by match basis which may be used for further analysis such as valuation of players, as the ranks
can be considered as a good representation of a player’s form and performance. The model uses a
new set of performance indicators affecting the performance of a player (batsman/bowler), many
of which are ignored by the earlier ranking systems including the most widely used ICC ranking
system. The uniqueness of the paper lies in the introduction of new variables and refinement to the
existing variables that helps in more accurate measurement of performance and its impact in
ranking. The factor analysis approach can also be extended to the other formats of the game. It can
also be used to rank all-rounders and wicket-keepers using suitable variables.
