Using perturbations in first class cricket to evaluate bowler dismissals of top order batsmen

This study aimed to explore the Perturbations found within the key event of wicket taking within 14 First Class Cricket matches in the 2017 season. 175 wickets which included 5 or more deliveries were analysed with one team as a particular focus. With the support of an elite coach, variable types were chosen and then assessed as sequence in the build up to a wicket being taken. Cluster Analysis results revealed a non-significant relationship between all the variables whilst the Chi-squared independent tests and goodness of fit tests found mixed results across the variables (p0.05). To the researcher’s knowledge, this is the first study done on perturbations in any format of cricket so there is no research to compare to in that regard. The method could be replicated in other formats of cricket or in the assessment of overseas cricket conditions