Statistics show record-breaking World Cup is most entertaining in history

Statistics released yesterday suggest that the record-breaking ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is set to be remembered as the most entertaining and unpredictable in the history of the event.

The cricket record books during the course of the event have had to be rewritten as a series of long-standing records, both in the history of the tournament and ODI cricket, have been shattered through a series of thrilling matches.

These are just some of the statistical highlights to be achieved during the course of the tournament:

* Sachin Tendulkar set a world record for the most appearances in ODIs and also became the first man in history to score five or more hundreds at the ICC Cricket World Cup. He also became the first batsman to score 2000 ICC Cricket World Cup runs.

* Ireland's Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball century against England set a record for the fastest hundred in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

* Ireland (329 for seven) recorded the highest successful run chase in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

* Ricky Ponting broke the record for the most match appearances in an ICC Cricket World Cup and also became the first player to be on the winning side in 250 ODI games.

* The India-England tie in Bengaluru set a new match aggregate record for the ICC Cricket World Cup as 676 runs were scored.

* Lasith Malinga became the first player to take two hat-tricks in ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments.

* Jonathan Trott became the joint record holder, alongside Viv Richards and Kevin Pietersen, of the fastest player to reach 1,000 ODI runs.

* Shahid Afridi became the first bowler to capture three successive four wicket hauls in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

* The partnership of 282 between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga for the first wicket against Zimbabwe was a new record for that wicket

* Paul Stirling became the youngest centurion in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup, with his hundred against the Netherlands.

The competition is also set to be remembered as the most memorable for spectators who enjoy quick scoring matches. After the 42 group games, the average run rate for the competition looks set to average more than five runs per over for the first time in the history of the competition.

So far runs have been scored at 5.07 runs per over, at an average of 28.43 runs per wicket, beating the previous best of 4.95 in 2007. The lowest run rate in a competition was 3.54 runs per over in the 1979 event.

With the knock-out stages viewed by ICC President Sharad Pawar as amongst the most open and unpredictable in the history of the history of the tournament, statistics also show that the influence of the toss and who bats first has had little impact on matches.

Of the 42 games in the competition so far, 30 captains have won the toss and chosen to bat, whereas only 12 have chosen to bowl. However, this has had not had much impact on the results of matches, as 22 have been won by the team batting first and 18 by the team batting second, with one tie and one no-result. The influence of day/night matches is also seen to be negligible, with 15 of the 30 matches won by the team batting first, while 13 have been won by the team batting second.

In the group stages, overall statistics show pace bowling was more effective than spin with a better strike rate (34.4 in comparison to 40.4) and a better average (29.86 in comparison to 31.53). However, spinners did have a better economy rate (4.68 in comparison to 5.19).

Strengths and weaknesses of World Cup quarter-finalists

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Following is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the World Cup quarter-finalists.

AUSTRALIA

Strengths:

Second highest opening partnership average (71.2)

Highest strike rate (110.9) by lower middle order

Best average score per wicket (75.0) while batting during powerplays; only team not to have lost a single wicket during all the bowling powerplays.

Second best economy rate by the fast bowlers (4.2)

Weaknesses:

Poor average score per wicket (38.5) in middle order with a relatively poor strike rate (77.9)

Bowling strike rate is poorest among all qualifiers (34.8 balls per wicket).

Worst economy rate conceded during batting powerplay (8.7)

ENGLAND

Strengths:

Showed their mental strength by surviving six close games.

Most number of runouts (8)

Weaknesses:

Lower middle order has lowest average runs (12.5) at relatively poor strike rate (77.3)

Poorest performance during batting powerplay with a run rate (6.4) and an average of 12.9

Poorest bowling performance so far with the worst economy rate (5.4 runs per over), average (30.9) and a strike rate (34.2) only better than Australia.

Poorest economy (5.8) and average (37.8) in powerplay bowling

INDIA

Strengths:

Second best batting performance so far behind Sri Lanka

Openers have the strongest performance, including highest strike rate (109.9); second highest average score (56.3); high average opening stand (57.2)

In powerplay one and two their performance is the best by a distance but they have a poor average score (37.7) in the batting powerplay

India have effected the second highest number of run outs (6) and stumpings (3) and taken the third highest number of catches (25)

Weaknesses:

Poor bowling performance with an economy rate (5.2) and average (27.9). Poor strike rate of 31.9

The weakest bowling performance from frontline spinners. Average of 38.5 runs a wicket only better than Australia; economy of 4.9 only better than West Indies; poor strike rate of 47.5

NEW ZEALAND

Strengths:

Opening batsmen have highest average runs per opener (57.6) and decent opening partnership (58.0)

Lower middle order has good average runs per batsman (27.6) at healthy strike rate (98.6)

Only team not to have suffered a single runout

New Zealand's regular pacemen have the best economy (4.1), best average (16.1) and second best strike rate (23.1)

Best spin bowling economy of 3.1 runs per over

Weaknesses:

Middle order has lowest average score per batsman (31.5) with middling strike rate (85.5)

PAKISTAN

Strengths:

Lower middle order has highest average runs per batsman (31.2) at healthy strike rate (90.3)

Best bowling economy rate during powerplays (4.2, with an 3.7 during powerplay one); good average (22.8)

Weaknesses:

Lowest opening batting average (14.8), lowest strike rate (68.5)

Lowest average during powerplays (28.7) and run rate (5.0)

Most number of extras conceded (9.3%) relative to total score Lowest number of catches taken (19) alongside England.

SOUTH AFRICA

Strengths:

Highest middle order strike rate (93.4); second highest average per batsman (53.7)

Only team to have bowled out all six opponents so far; bowlers have lowest average runs per wicket (17.1), best strike rate (23.8 balls per wicket), second best economy rate (4.3 runs per over), behind Sri Lanka

Good fast bowling economy (4.2), average (17.3), strike rate (24.5)

Best spin bowling with average (15.0), strike rate (22.1)

Weaknesses:

Most number of run outs (6) conceded

SRI LANKA

Strengths:

Best opening batting performance, including highest average opening partnership (85.3), high strike rate (92.2)

Second highest runs per wicket scored (51.5) at run rate of 6.2 runs per over during powerplays while batting

Second best bowling performance, behind South Africa. Best economy rate (4.3) with second best average runs per wicket (18.8) and strike rate (26.1)

Best spin bowling performance with economy (3.5) behind the Kiwis and average (16.7) second to South Africa

Weaknesses:

Second highest number of run outs (5) conceded and extras (7.7%) higher than some other teams

WEST INDIES

Strengths:

Good bowling performance, especially during powerplays; best average runs per wicket (18.0), decent economy rate (4.7)

Fast bowling has best strike rate (22.8), second best average (16.9)

Least number of extras (5.4%) conceded relative to total score

Weaknesses:

Weakest batting performance, alongside Pakistan. Lowest average runs per wicket (26.5). Run rate (5.2) only better than Pakistan's.