Edgware's Saturday form, what do the statistics say?

In the last three years, Edgware have enjoyed a promotion push throughout July and August, however this year it seems as though they will just fall short after a comprehensive defeat at the hands of rivals Old Eastcotians.

Realistically, the boys in blue will need Northwood to drop points in three of their remaining 7 matches OR for Old Eastcotians to drop points in two of their remaining 7 matches. In either scenario that still may not be enough depending on how many points both promotion rivals secure in their respective losses. On the other side of the fence, Edgware will need to be absolutely perfect and complete 7 wins from 7 with no further rain interruptions.

So, what has been the reason for the slump this season? - Is it better opposition, better batting tracks, not enough big scores with the bat? - Perhaps it has been a combination of these factors that have left Edgware facing a second season in Division 9 West next year.

AVERAGES - Runs per wicket

The average runs per wkt statistics for batting and bowling sketch an initial outline of the season so far. With the bat, Edgware dominated both the 2022 and 2023 season, with batters (on average) scoring at around 40 runs per wicket and 50 runs per wicket respectively. This fell drastically in 2024 with the averages hitting just 27 runs per wicket (albeit from a much larger sample of matches) and this has more or less continued into 2025 with batters hitting a slightly better 28 runs per wicket (with 7 weeks to go).

In the bowling department, bowlers averaged just under 19 in 2022, before strong returns in 2023 and 2024 (14 and 12 runs per wkt respectively). However, this has increased dramatically to around 20 runs per wkt this season.

Interestingly, the stats seem to correlate with the weather (see below). 2022 was an exceptionally dry summer with a record-breaking heatwave throughout July, whereas 2025 was the driest January-June since 1976. Is it therefore any surprise that bowling averages have increased in response to better batting conditions?

Perhaps therefore, the takeaway from the initial analysis is that (at times), the batters have not put on enough runs as they perhaps should have given the better conditions. Whilst their blushes were saved to some extent in 2024 by record-breaking bowling returns, the poorer overall bowling display from Edgware in 2025 has started to reveal the cracks and fragility in Edgware's overall batting effort.

Batting and Bowling - A deeper analysis

The distribution of 50+ scores against innings per 50 draws similar conclusions to the above but actually suggests batters have started to rediscover their mojo. It's perhaps unfair to draw comparisons in late July given there is still August and September to go (often seen as the best batting conditions of the summer), however the averages innings per 50 has improved back to 13 following a low of 18 innings per 50 last season. That is in the face of better bowling attacks that Edgware have faced this season.

Perhaps the more telling insight in the above graphs is the bowling efficiency figures. Yes 2022 was hot and dry and created better batting conditions, but the bowling group still managed to bowl out oppositon in 69% of innings, dismissing the oppositon outfits 9 times out of 13. In 2025, however, Edgware have only managed to dismiss the opposition 3 times out of 9 attempts (33.3%), a new low in the Sat League Cricket era. What's more surprising is the drop off from 2024 which saw Edgware dismiss the oppositon in all of their 16 completed league games. So, what is the driving factor? Is it purely better batsmen and better pitches? Or have the bowlers veered ever so slightly from the basics and their line and length?

The Toss

Perhaps one of the more heavily debated topics around Edgware Cricket is to whether the side is more of a "Batting Team" or "Bowling Team". The statistics reveal that actually the toss rarely plays any significance in the final result. Edgware have won 79% of games they've batted first in and 78% of games they've bowled first in.

In 2024, Edgware won 9/9 games they batted first in, and won 4/7 games they bowled first in. In 2025 however, the reverse can be seen with Edgware having won 1/4 games they batted first in and 4/5 games they bowled first in. The lesson learned should therefore be, play the conditions.

Conclusions

At the end of the day, statistics are just statistics. It's up to the reader to draw the conclusions. Have the batters failed to make enough of the better pitches this season, or are they up against better bowlers ? Similarly, have the bowlers underperformed or are they up against better pitches and batters?

Regardless, Edgware must get back to basics in the final part of the season which includes geting good totals on the board and building pressure on opposition batters. Only then, will they maintain an outside short of promotion in 2025.