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Batting first was no longer a curse in World Cup 2019, while spinners generally didn’t have much to celebrate. These and other stats highlights from the tournament

ESPNcricinfo stats team. Graphics by Ishita Mazumder17-Jul-2019The run-rate dip
Given how ODI run rates had soared in England in the four years leading up to this World Cup 2019 – it was 6.07 in the period between the last two World Cups – people generally assumed that the scoring rate in this edition would leave behind previous ones by some distance. Well, it didn’t pan out that way, thanks to the pitches and the conditions.The run rate in this tournament was 5.59, marginally lower than the 5.65 that was achieved in the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand. It also broke a 12-year sequence of each World Cup exceeding the rate of the previous edition, which had been happening since 2007.ESPNcricinfo LtdBat first to win
Chasing was generally the preferred option for teams in England in the four years leading up to this tournament: the win-loss ratio for teams batting first was 20-32 (0.625). In the World Cup, it flipped completely: teams batting first won 28 and lost 15, a ratio of 1.866, which is a three-fold improvement for the team batting first. It is also a significant departure from ODI trends over the last four years since World Cup 2015.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe difference was especially stark in the second half of the tournament, when the pitches generally became slower and the weather cleared up. In the first 21 completed matches, the teams batting first only had a 11-10 win-loss record; in the next 23 matches, it changed drastically to 17-5. The 1987 World Cup is the only one in which the team batting first had a better win-loss ratio.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe captains winning the toss caught on: in the first half of the tournament, only four times did teams win the toss and bat; in the second half it happened 18 times in 23 games, and it yielded a 13-4 win-loss (apart from a tie). Overall, the 15-6 win-loss record for the team winning the toss and batting is the most skewed among all World Cups.ESPNcricinfo LtdNo place for spin
Spinners had a forgettable tournament. They took only 136 wickets in all, at an average of 51.05 and an economy rate of 5.41. Only once in the past have they conceded more runs per wicket – in 1979, when they averaged 65.25. Their economy rate in 2019 was the poorest in all World Cups. The top 17 wicket-takers in this World Cup were all seamers; Yuzvendra Chahal, with 12 wickets, was the best among the spinners. The seamers finished with 500 wickets at 30.16.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe middle overs are generally when spinners come into their own, but they struggled even during that phase in World Cup 2019. Their average of 50.64 and economy rate of 5.30 between overs 11 and 40 were the worst in this phase in World Cup history.Top-class top orders
The top three batsmen (Nos. 1-3) in the batting line-ups of all teams scored 51% of the total runs off the bat in the entire tournament, compared to 43% in 2015, 48% in 2011 and 44.5% in 2007. Among the 11 batsmen who scored 400-plus runs in the tournament, only one – Ben Stokes – batted outside the top three. The top three batsmen averaged 43.24 in 2019, five more than they have in any other World Cup.ESPNcricinfo LtdLed by Shakib Al Hasan, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam, Joe Root and Virat Kohli, the No. 3s generally had a tournament to remember. They averaged 52.47, their highest by far in any World Cup; their next best is 43.40, in the 1987 edition. In contrast, No. 4s didn’t have such a memorable tournament, averaging 34.97, their lowest in the last four editions.Starc and Co dominate
Mitchell Starc’s 27 wickets broke the record for most wickets in a single World Cup, while Mustafizur Rahman, Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi were among the top ten wicket-takers, making this an outstanding tournament for left-arm fast bowlers. They took 136 wickets, their best haul ever in a World Cup, and two more than their tally in 2015.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn terms of averages too, they were clearly better than their right-arm counterparts: the left-arm seamers averaged 25.38, compared to 31.95 by the right-arm fast bowlers.ESPNcricinfo LtdCaptains lead the way
Four captains who scored 300-plus runs at 50-plus averages in this World Cup; in previous editions, there have never been more than two captains who did so.ESPNcricinfo LtdWilliamson, Aaron Finch, Kohli and Faf du Plessis were outstanding with the bat, while Eoin Morgan and Dimuth Karunaratne made vital contributions too. Overall, the captains averaged 42.94, the second highest in any World Cup: in 1975, they averaged 49.14.

فرض التعادل السلبي كلمته على مواجهة الاتحاد السكندري وفاركو، التي جمعت بينهما اليوم، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى الاتحاد السكندري مع فاركو، على أرضية استاد برج العرب بالإسكندرية، في إطار مواجهات الجولة السادسة لبطولة الدوري المصري.

وشهدت المباراة هدفاً ملغيًا لفريق فاركو في الدقيقة 77 عن طريق جابر كامل، بعد كرة عرضية من ركلة ركنية داخل منطقة الجزاء.

طالع أيضاً.. الزمالك يصطدم بـ المصري في مواجهة مثيرة على صدارة الدوري

كما شهدت المباراة محاولات عديدة من كلا الفريقين لمحاولة تسجيل هدف يضمن الثلاثة نقاط، إلا أن الحالة الدفاعية الصلبة حالت دون ذلك.

بهذا التعادل، يحتل الاتحاد السكندري المركز السابع عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 5 نقاط، بينما يتواجد فريق فاركو بالمركز العشرين، ولديه نقطتين.

Chelsea have already made contact and held talks with a Brazilian defender via his representatives, with manager Enzo Maresca looking to strengthen his squad in a variety of areas before his second full campaign in charge.

Chelsea set to "go big" on multiple positions this summer

The west Londoners are very much competing for a place in next season’s Champions League with a top four finish well and truly in the realms of possibility, but the last two months have taught us that there is still plenty of work to do on the Chelsea squad for next season.

Chelsea now in talks for another 16 y/o sensation after Evangelista signing

The Blues are raiding Brazil.

By
Barney Lane

Mar 3, 2025

Chelsea have lost three out of their last five Premier League games whilst being knocked out of both domestic cups recently, with BlueCo already looking ahead to 2025/2026 as Maresca attempts to galvanise a strong finish to the campaign.

It is believed that Chelsea are set to “go big” on signing a defender, midfielder and forward this summer, according to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, and there is some optimism that they could look to bring in a new full-back.

“Our top SPTC source has heard this weekend that Chelsea are ‘going big’ for a new goalkeeper, centre back, and a striker in the summer transfer window,” wrote Phillips, via his Substack.

“He also mentions other positions such as a new full back, but we have no definitive news on that just yet.”

A lot of the noise has centered around Chelsea’s pursuit of a central defender, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi among Maresca’s key targets, but a right-back may also be possible.

Reece James finds himself on the treatment table consistently with injury problems, leaving Maresca with just Malo Gusto and makeshift alternatives to the £250,000-per-week defender.

Chelsea could look to reinforce that area of the squad as a result, with Stamford Bridge officials recently raiding Brazil for talent. Now, as per South American news outlet RTI Esporte, their attention has turned towards Flamengo defender Wesley Franca.

The 21-year-old, who can also play as a right-midfielder, is a target for many Premier League sides and Chelsea are no exception.

Chelsea hold talks with Flamengo defender Wesley Franca via his camp

As per RTI Esporte, Chelsea have approached Franca’s camp for talks ahead of the summer window, but they face stiff competition from Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle.

All of these sides, bar Manchester City, who also hold an interest, have all contacted the player to gauge conditions of a potential deal before the next campaign. Franca’s reputation across the Atlantic is growing, but Flamengo would sell for a fee of around £29 million.

Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea defender Filipe Luis has branded France as a player with “no ceiling” in a serious endorsement of his teammate.

“He’s the kind of player who will decide where he wants to play come June,” said Luis. “There’s no ceiling for this kid; he’s exceptional.”

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