What is the MVP?
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) is a new program for Australian Cricket developed by the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket Australia and introduced for the 2008/09 interstate season.
Based on statistics, the MVP is a cumulative points system that ranks and rewards players for every run scored, every wicket taken and every catch held in addition to how well their team performs.
The MVP combines all aspects of a player’s game and performances to give him a ranking in relation to his peers.
The rankings then determine the MVP in each form of cricket and will culminate in the overall MVP.
Why has the MVP been established?
The MVP has been established following on from the success of a similar program run by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) in the UK.
The program has been developed by the players, for the players because we believe that traditional cricket statistics are:
• Too focused on individual elements of the game – averages, run rates, wickets taken
• Not clear and not relevant to all cricket
• Not reflective of a player’s total contribution to his team
• Didn’t take into account factors that may favour one discipline of the game over another at any given time
The formula used to calculate the rankings and MVP has been licensed from the PCA. The PCA’s MVP program has been in existence for the past two seasons and has quickly gained acceptance from players, media and supporters alike.
The MVP provides a modern and all encompassing assessment of each player’s individual performance.
How is the MVP calculated?
An overview of the formula is as follows:
Batting + Bowling + Fielding + Captaincy + Winning = Total MVP points
Bonus points are awarded as follows:
• Batting – scoring a century; achieving a benchmark run rate; scoring over 30% of the team’s runs
• Bowling – taking five or more wickets in an innings; achieving benchmark economy rates; bowling maidens
• Fielding – catches; run outs; stumpings; further bonus for five or more dismissals
• Captaincy – captaining winning teams
• Winning Team – being a member of a winning team
The MVP records every score of every game. It can therefore be used to identify the Most Valuable Player by:
• Team
• Tournament
• Discipline
The MVP rewards players not only for season-long contribution but also for short periods of success, expertise in certain forms of the game, and contribution to his
team’s performance.
The main features of the MVP mechanism are as follows:
• Real time player statistics fed into an online database managed by Cadability
• The MVP formula ‘translates’ raw statistics into MVP points
• MVP points are automatically uploaded onto the ACA website
• Regular MVP update reports will be produced and distributed by the Australian Cricketers’ Association
What is the calculation period?
The calculation periods for the 2009/10 MVP are as follows:
International Men
Commenced with Australia’s first Test in South Africa and will conclude at the end of the Australian International domestic season on 19 February 2010.
International Women
Commenced on 8 March in line with the 2009 Women's World Cup and concludes on 23 February 2010.
Interstate Men
Commences on 11 October 2008 in line with the first Ford Ranger Cup match and concludes at the completion of the Sheffield Shield final on 23 March 2010.
Interstate Women
Commences on 31 October 2009 in line with the first WNCL match and concludes on 18 January 2010.
What awards are presented?
Awards are presented in the following categories:
International cricket
• Overall MVP
• Test MVP
• ODI MVP
• Twenty20 MVP
Interstate cricket
• Overall MVP
• Sheffield Shield MVP
• Ford Ranger Cup MVP
• KFC Big Bash Twenty20 MVP