FTI Consulting announced as sponsor of MVP Rankings system – 15/04/2010

FTI Consulting announced as sponsor of MVP Rankings system 15/04/10 ECB and PCA today announced a new three year sponsorship deal with the business consulting firm FTI Consulting for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rankings system. Under the new sponsorship deal FTI MVP rankings awards will be presented to the leading domestic player at the end of each County season and the leading England player at the end of the domestic international season and the winter tour period. A monthly FTI MVP Rankings award will also be announced throughout the summer for the leading player across the LV= County Championship, Friends Provident t20 and Clydesdale Bank 40. Originally conceived by the PCA, the FTI MVP rankings powered by PA Sport are a cumulative points system that rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held – and how well they do it. PCA Chief Executive Angus Porter said: "We don’t just believe the FTI MVP rankings measure the value of a player’s contribution – we know they do. "For the last three years, the winner of the overall MVP award in County Cricket has also received the accolade of being elected ‘the NatWest Players Player of the Year’ at the NatWest PCA Awards – the ultimate endorsement that the FTI MVP ranking reflects accurately the way professional players assess player performance." Recent winners include Ottis Gibson in 2007, Martin van Jaarsveld in 2008, and Marcus Trescothick in 2009. In the development of the FTI MVP rankings to date, a wealth of player performance data has been compiled. FTI Consulting’s support will enable the PCA to develop the role of the FTI MVP rankings. FTI Consulting’s technical experience has the potential to mine the existing information and help sharpen player analysis and create new coaching applications for the rankings data in the professional game and, possibly, applications for the amateur game too. This exciting aspect of the sponsorship is being jointly explored at present. The FTI MVP rankings have been refined over the last two years and are now a robust tool providing a new perspective on player performance. The partnership will help to drive the communication of the relevance of the FTI MVP rankings to a wider audience than just players and coaches, creating debate amongst cricket fans in a sport that thrives on statistics. "As the firm that helps the stewards of modern business make critical decisions at the critical time, FTI Consulting knows firsthand how powerful it is to have timely, accurate information at your fingertips, which is why this partnership with the ECB and PCA makes so much sense." said Jack Dunn, President and Chief Executive Officer of FTI Consulting. "We are also honoured to be lending our best-in-class technology, which leading businesses and law firms around the world rely on everyday to turn their voluminous data into actionable corporate assets, to support this exciting way to measure the value of each player’s contribution to the overall performance of the team." ECB Commercial Director John Perera said: "Cricket is a game which thrives on statistics and I am sure that the FTI MVP rankings will become a real talking point for all cricket fans and an invaluable resource for players, coaches and selectors alike." England captain Andrew Strauss pledged his support of the system at Lord’s today: "The FTI MVP rankings are a terrific concept and a great way for players to measure how much they are contributing to the team in all areas of the game. "I know those players in the England team and throughout the counties will be keeping an eye on the rankings regularly throughout the year." – Ends – Notes to editors: Background to the FTI MVP Rankings: 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 % 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) 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. less that 6 runs per over in Twenty20 Taking 5 or more wickets in an innings Bowling maidens Fielding: Points are accumulated for: Catches Run outs – direct hits Run outs – assists Stampings Bonus for 5 fielding dismissals in an innings Captaincy: A captain of a winning side will receive a points bonus Winning teams: All members of a winning team receive a points bonus. About FTI Consulting: FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With approximately 3,500 employees located in most major business centers in the world, we work closely with clients every day to anticipate, illuminate, and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management and restructuring. More information can be found at http://www.fticonsulting.com/. FTI has more than 3,500 professionals located in all the major business centers in the world, and its ranks include forensic accountants; former chief executives and political leaders; top-ranking economists; certified turnaround professionals; interim management professionals; corporate investigation specialists; banking and securities professionals; certified public accountants; chartered financial analysts; and corporate, financial and crisis communications specialists. Business Segments Forensic and Litigation Consulting Provides an extensive range of services to assist clients in all phases of investigation and litigation, including pre-filing, discovery, trial preparation, expert testimony and other trial support services. The company’s international risk and investigations group provides business intelligence and investigations, corporate investigations, litigation and dispute investigations and integrity advisory services. Technology Provides services, products and consulting to law firms, corporations and government agencies worldwide focusing on the collection, preservation, review and production of electronically stored information (ESI). ESI includes e-mail, computer files, voicemail, instant messaging or transactional data stored on a computer. Corporate Finance/Restructuring Consulting Focuses on businesses’ strategic, operational, financial and capital needs. Specific offerings are turnaround, performance improvement, lending solutions, financial and operational restructuring, restructuring advisory, mergers and acquisitions, transaction advisory and interim management services. Economic Consulting Delivers sophisticated economic analysis, modeling, advice and testimony related to issues arising in mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and competition and other complex commercial and securities litigation. The segment’s professionals regularly provide expert testimony on damages, rates and prices, valuations, merger effects, intellectual property disputes in antitrust and anti-competition cases, regulatory proceedings and business valuations. Strategic and Financial Communications Consulting Provides advice and consulting services related to financial communications, brand communications, public affairs, issues management and business consulting. Services include strategic boardroom advice, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, financial and business media relations, capital markets intelligence, initial public offerings, corporate restructuring, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and regulatory communications. Awards and Rankings Five of the top antitrust economists in the world (Source: Global Competition Review) Top 5 Electronic Discovery Software and Service Provider – 2007 Socha-Gelbmann Electronic Discovery Survey "Positive" rating in Gartner’s "MarketScope for E-Discovery and Litigation Support Vendors, 2007" Litigation Support System and Service Provider of the Year – Legal Technology Journal 2007 Legal Technology Awards Top 5 Electronic Discovery Vendor – 2007 AmLaw TechSurvey Ranked #1 in The Deal’s most recent league tables for crisis management firms in the U.S. (December 31, 2009) FD, Winner, International Consultancy of the Year, PR Week Awards 2006 FD named Public Relations Firm of the year in the Financial Times and Mergermarket M&A Awards