What is T20 Total Impact
Dissecting the context-based metric that combines batting and bowling performance to measure the effect a player had on a match
Smart Stats, ESPNcricinfo’s rating points for batting and bowling performances by players in all matches. The rating points take into account not only runs scored, strike rate, wickets taken and economy rate but also the context of those performances.
Total Impact is a numerical value of a player’s impact in a match. It is the sum of his Batting Impact and Bowling Impact.
These Impacts are calculated based on a batting/bowling performance
Context is based on an intelligent algorithm which quantifies the pressure on the batter/bowler at every ball of an innings. This is the value of the Pressure Index (PI) for each ball.
The components that make up formula for PI are runs needed, overs left, quality of batter at the crease and coming up, quality of bowlers and overs remaining for each, pitch/conditions, how easy/hard it is for batters/bowlers.
Every wicket taken by a bowler is assigned an Impact Wicket value, based on the quality of the batter, the match situation and the pressure on both teams at that point, and the batter's score. Bowling impact is the sum of Impact Wickets and economy rate of the bowler, adjusted for PI.
For batsmen, the runs scored off each ball are converted into Impact Runs, taking into account the match situation and pressure on the batsman at that time. Batting impact is a mix of Impact Runs and strike rate and is also context based.
Bonus points for match-winning performances are added organically by the algorithm, but it’s not uncommon for a top performance in a losing cause to be the most impactful in a match.
