BBL|11: What We've Learnt From Power Play And Power Surge Execution
Dec 22, 2021, 4:18AM
We're 16 games into BBL|11 and an interesting trend has emerged with 11 of the sides batting first winning. The unbeaten Perth Scorchers have used this strategy to a tee in every game this season.
This comes in direct contrast to last month's T20 World Cup in the UAE where sides chasing had a distinct conditional advantage and basically won every game, including Australia in the final over New Zealand after winning the toss.
There's a few elements to the success of sides batting first, including the execution of the power plays (four-over period at the start of the innings when only two fielders are permitted outside the circle) and use of the power surge (two-over period at a window selected by the batting side any time between the 10th and 20th overs when only two fielders are permitted outside the circle).
Beyond that, there does appear to be a gulf between the top few BBL sides this season - the Sydney Sixers and Scorchers along with the Thunder and Stars on the next tier - and the rest, so we've dug deeper into a few trends around power plays and power surges.
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Power plays – batting first vs batting second
There has been a distinct skew for sides who bat first in the power play this season, with only 14 wickets falling from the 16 games. In comparison, 21 wickets have fallen during the power play for the side batting second.
No side batting first has lost more than two wickets during the power play, while it has occurred three times for sides batting second. Interestingly, the latter happened in both of the opening two games, with the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder slumping to 3-26 to 3-37 respectively, before a correction among the sides.
The Brisbane Heat have had the biggest collapse, slipping to 5-28 in the power play batting second against the Thunder on Sunday. With all that in mind, power plays have been less productive for runs when batting second.
Unbeaten title contenders Perth Scorchers have batted first in every game, a clear tactic, and averaged 31.75 runs for the loss of one wicket in their power plays.
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Batting power plays by team
It may come as a surprise that the Adelaide Strikers have had the most prolific power plays with the bat, led by dashing opener Matt Short who has a strike rate of 155.55. Adelaide haven’t been able to sustain that, claiming one win from four games. The Strikers' lowest power play score came on Tuesday night, 2-31 against the Sydney Sixers.
Adelaide have the second-best power play score this season after posting 1-48 against the Melbourne Renegades. That has only been bettered by the highly inconsistent Hobart Hurricanes when they belted 0-54 against the Sixers as Matthew Wade crunched 51 from 20 balls in the opening four overs.
The apparent title contenders, the Sixers, Scorchers and Thunder are all up towards the top for average power play scores.
Curiously, bottom club Renegades are yet to lose a wicket in a power play this season, which may make them think twice about Aaron Finch's role upon his return.
On the flipside, the Heat have lost nine wickets in their four power plays this season, including a horrible 5-28 on Sunday against the Thunder.
The Stars have the lowest power play score this season, 2-12 against the Sixers the second time they played them, having lost 3-26 in the opening game when they were skittled for only 61.
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Timing of power surges
*On two occasions the side batting second did not use the power surge. On one occasion, rain meant the Sixers' surge was only one over (11.1-12 instance).
The timing of sides taking the power surge is interesting, particularly in comparison across both innings. From the 16 games, sides batting first have used it nine times within the three-over window from the 13th over to the 16th over.
In comparison, sides batting second have more commonly used the surge later, utilising it six out of 14 times (note: in two games the surge wasn’t used by the side batting second) from the three-over window from the 16th to 19th over, while it's been used three times from the 10th over.
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Batting power surges per team
*The Stars and Heat didn’t use their power surge once. The Sixers had theirs halved once in rain-affected game.
Despite their struggles during the power play, the Stars have had the most productive power surges this season, losing no wickets and making 27.33 runs on average. It's worth noting in their opening loss to the Sixers they didn’t actually take their surge, but on the three other occasions they've taken it from the 13th over twice and from the 12th over once.
The high-flying Sixers are up near the top too, losing a wicket only once during their surges, while being able to pile on runs with a strike rate beyond 200. The Sixers have the best power surge this season, piling on 33 runs for no loss in the opening game against the Stars, with Josh Philippe scoring 23 off six balls in that surge.
The Strikers may have the best power play record this season but they have had a major issue losing wickets during their surges. In Tuesday's loss to the Sixers they arrested that run, going at 0-18, but previously had gone 2-24, 3-24 and 4-18.
The Hurricanes, who have the least productive surges this season, have taken it three times from the 11th over which is a quirky trend suggesting that is not the optimal time to use it.
Beyond all that, similar to the power play trend, sides who have batted first have lost 0.63 wickets and scored 23.69 runs during their power surge, compared to sides batting second, losing on average 0.93 wickets and scoring 19.29 runs.
All that underlines the point that sides batting first have gained an advantage from the power play and power surge overs. Theorise how you want around perceived pressure or the burden of chasing a target but the data is there.
Keep an eye on who wins the toss and who bats in upcoming games.
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