Root and Ali shoot out to be crowned Winter MVP

Root and Ali shoot out to be crowned Winter MVP Joe Root and long-time MVP leader Moeen Ali will head into England’s Test in Barbados knowing their respective individual performances there will determine the Winter MVP title. Root leads the Test and Overall Winter Rankings after another stellar batting display in Grenada. The Yorkshireman caressed 182 not out at the strike rate of 79 runs per 100 balls, contributing 39.22% of England’s first innings’ runs. He’s scored 342 runs in two Tests following scores of 83 and 59 in Antigua. Root’s strike rate across the two matches should not be underestimated especially given how late in the day England won the second Test. His 342 runs at 73 runs per 100 balls compares favourably to Alastair Cook’s 159 runs at 42, Ian Bell’s 155 at 53, Gary Balance’s 290 at 48 and Jonathan Trott’s 63 at 38. Root was England’s leading run-scorer in the ODI campaign, too, with 671 runs including two hundreds against Sri Lanka, three fifties and four other scores in excess of 36, contributing 17.82% of England’s Winter ODI runs. Root will head to Barbados on 232 MVP Ranking points 25 points clear of Ali. Ali won the ODI MVP and enjoyed a 43-point lead in the overall race at the end of the World Cup. His absence from the first Test, though, combined with Root’s performances have seen a dramatic swing which leaves Ali with it all to do with one Test remaining. Ali returned figures of 1-47 and 3-51 in Grenada but was run out for nought taking just 10 points from the match. Ali has scored 547 runs and taken 20 wickets for England this winter 16 of which have come in the ODI arena. His free-flowing ODI hundreds against Sri Lanka and Scotland hinted at a brave new world at the top of the order for England but a failure to turn attractive cameos into more substantial innings and a lack of a consistent opening partner meant solid foundations were rarely built. Ali struck 57 fours and 21 sixes scoring 64.7% of his ODI runs in boundaries. He conceded runs at 4.86 runs per over operating as England’s number one spin option during the World Cup. He will need to fire with both bat and ball to wrestle the MVP crown from Root’s grasp. WINTER MVP PLAYER BAT BOWL FIELD CAPT WINS PLAYED POINTS AV PTS Root 191.94 16.74 16 0 7 20 232 11.58 Moeen 112.80 82.63 6 0 6 18 207 11.52 Bell 150.11 0 7 0 5 15 162 10.81 Buttler 89.38 0 60 0 7 20 156 7.82 Woakes 32.54 104.00 10 0 5 17 152 8.91 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}}