Finn and Taylor the only positives against Australia

Finn and Taylor the only positives against Australia Steven Finn and James Taylor have moved into the top five of the Winter MVP Rankings after England’s opening match of the 2015 World Cup against Australia. Finn took his second five-wicket haul in a month including a hat-trick, albeit off the last three balls of the Australian innings by which time they had amassed 342. Finn has taken 16 wickets from his last six ODIs and 21 for the whole winter campaign, conceding runs at 5.60 runs per over. His analysis at the MCG of 10-0-71-5 was his most expensive of the winter and 71 runs is the most conceded by a bowler taking a hat-trick in a one-day international. England will hope his happy knack of taking wickets continues; earlier in proceedings would be preferable. Taylor scored 98 not out off 90 balls and was robbed of a possible maiden ODI hundred by an umpiring error when Jimmy Anderson was given run out after Taylor successfully overturned an LBW decision against him on review. The ball is technically ‘dead’ as soon as the umpire raises the dreaded finger and thus other modes of dismissal or runs scored are not possible if the decision is reversed. Taylor’s innings was still his best in ODI colours and he’s now racked up 415 runs for the campaign at a strike rate of 79 runs per 100 balls including five fifties. His knock at the MCG was the first time he’s scored at a rate better than a run-a-ball. Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes continue to lead the Winter MVP Rankings despite having quiet games at the MCG. Woakes, who has opened the bowling for England in every game he’s played since the beginning of the recent Sri Lanka tour, came on first change as England reverted to Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad as their new-ball partnership. The Warwickshire man picked up 1-65 with the ball accounting for the dangerous Steve Smith and then showed his all-round qualities with 37 from 42 balls with the bat. Unfortunately he couldn’t add to his eight catches this winter, grassing the early chance offered by Aaron Finch, who went on to compile a fine 135. Woakes has scored 152 runs and taken 23 wickets to date. Ali is 16 points clear at the top of the Rankings having scored 365 runs at 105 runs per 100 balls and taken 12 wickets. Much of his success came in Sri Lanka where he collected 81.21 points at an average of 11.60 points-per-game. In Australia he’s scored 57.97 points at an average of 9.66 points per game. WINTER ODI MVP PLAYER BAT BOWL FIELD CAPT WINS PLAYED POINTS AV PTS Moeen 72.54 57.64 5 0 4 13 139 10.71 Woakes 22.23 88.65 8 0 4 13 123 9.45 Root 88.27 -1.49 7 0 4 13 98 7.52 Finn 1.39 89.37 2 0 4 11 97 8.80 Taylor 87.62 0 6 0 3 10 97 9.66 For more information on the MVP ranking system please visit www.thepca.co.uk. For more info on this release contact Dave Fulton on 07742106991, dfulton@thepca.co.uk or Jason Ratcliffe at the PCA on 07768 558 050 or jratcliffe@thepca.co.uk The Formula The MVP is a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, wicket taken and catch held – and, how well they do it. A player achieves bonus points based in certain criteria. An overview of the formula is set out below: Batting + Bowling + Fielding + Captaincy + Winning = Total MVP points Batting: The basis of the batting points take into account runs scored, the rate scored at, and the percentage of the team’s total. Batting bonus points are achieved for reaching a century, achieving a benchmark run-rate (varies per tournament, i.e. 1.5 runs per ball in the Twenty20), and scoring over 30% of a team’s runs Bowling: The basis for the bowling points take into account the number of wickets and economy rates. Bowlers achieve higher points for getting out higher order batsmen Bowling bonus points are achieved for achieving a benchmark economy rate (varies per tournament, i.e. fewer than 6 runs per over in Twenty20), taking 5 or more wickets in an innings, and bowling maidens. Fielding: Points are accumulated for catches, run outs – direct hits, run outs – assists, stumpings, with bonuses for 5 fielding dismissals in an innings. Captaincy: A captain of a winning side will receive one bonus point Winning teams: All members of a winning team receive one bonus point {{ak_sharing}}