How Is Player of the Match Chosen in Cricket? Criteria

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How Is Player of the Match Chosen in Cricket?

Why the top scorer does not always win the award, and what selectors weigh beyond runs and wickets: strike rate, economy, fielding and the match situation.

Player of the Match is usually chosen by a panel, often commentators or former players, who pick the player whose performance made the biggest difference to that game. No law of cricket sets one process, and no universal formula applies to every competition.

That is why a century does not always win the award and a bowler with fewer wickets sometimes does. The answer lies in match impact, meaning when a player performed, under what pressure and how much it shaped the result.

Key takeaway

Runs and wickets make a player a strong candidate, but the award goes to the performance judged most influential in the context of the match.

How Player of the Match is decided

Player of the Match, also known as Man of the Match, recognises the player considered to have contributed most to a match. In many competitions a panel makes the call, often made up of commentators or former players and sometimes match officials. Some competitions also use statistical systems to compare performances.

Selectors can look at several things. Hover over a card to see what each one covers.

These factors do not carry equal weight. Their importance depends on the match, the format and the selection process.

Why the highest scorer does not always win

A big score looks impressive, but its value depends on the situation. Here are two hypothetical T20 innings. The numbers are illustrative, not from a real match.

Performance	Batter A	Batter B
Runs scored	85	48
Balls faced	60	25
Strike rate	141.7	192.0
Match situation	Team already scoring comfortably	Team chasing a difficult target
Contribution	Maintained the innings	Changed the momentum of the chase

Batter A scored more runs, but Batter B scored faster while the required run rate was climbing and helped complete a hard chase. A panel might favour Batter B for the timing and importance of the innings, though Batter A could still win if judged more valuable overall.

Strike rate formula

Strike rate = runs ÷ balls faced × 100. For Batter B, 48 ÷ 25 × 100 = 192.0.

Can a bowler win with fewer wickets?

Yes, because the wicket count tells only part of the story. Compare two hypothetical bowlers from the same T20 match.

Bowling figures	Bowler A	Bowler B
Overs	4	4
Runs conceded	42	19
Wickets	3	1
Economy rate	10.50	4.75

Bowler A took more wickets, while Bowler B conceded far fewer runs. If Bowler B controlled scoring in a crucial phase and kept the target within reach, that spell could be judged more influential. Three important wickets might still make Bowler A the stronger candidate, so the decision depends on the full context.

What makes a performance match-winning?

A match-winning performance greatly improves a team's position or secures the result. It does not always need a century or a five-wicket haul.

A quick innings under pressure
Thirty-five off 15 balls near the end of a chase can matter more than a slower 60 made earlier.
Wickets at the right time
Two established batters out in consecutive overs can break a partnership that was taking the game away.
An all-round performance
Forty runs, two wickets and an important catch can add up even if no single number leads the match.
A decisive fielding effort
A difficult catch or a crucial run-out can change a close game, whatever the fielder's batting and bowling figures.

Can a player from the losing team win?

Yes. The award often goes to the winning side because its contributions produced the result, but an outstanding individual effort in defeat can win it. For example, a batter might score a superb century while the rest of the team struggles. Whether that player wins depends on the competition and the people choosing.

Choosing Player of the Match in a local tournament

In club and community cricket, organisers usually set their own process, so it helps to settle it before the first match.

Decide who selects the award, such as the umpires, captains or organisers.
Publish the factors you will consider, for example runs, strike rate, wickets, economy, fielding and match situation.
Agree in advance how to settle close calls between two players.
Check the figures on the scorecard before you announce the winner.

An accurate scorecard makes the choice fairer, since the award rests on the numbers. For recording them, see how to track cricket batting and bowling statistics and avoid common cricket scoring mistakes.

Give every performance a proper record

Whoever wins your next Player of the Match, make sure the scorecard backs it up. Explore CricLive for ball-by-ball scoring and detailed scorecards.

Explore CricLive

Frequently asked questions

What does Player of the Match mean in cricket?

Player of the Match, also called Man of the Match, is an award for the player judged to have made the most significant contribution to a particular cricket match.

Who decides Player of the Match in cricket?

There is no single rule. It is usually a panel, often commentators or former players and sometimes match officials, but the process depends on the competition.

Can a player win Player of the Match without scoring many runs?

Yes. A player can win through important wickets, economical bowling, fielding or another decisive contribution.

Can the highest wicket-taker lose the Player of the Match award?

Yes. The panel may weigh the importance of the wickets, runs conceded, the match situation and what other players contributed.

Is there a fixed formula for Player of the Match?

No single formula applies to every match. Some competitions rely on human judgement, while others also use statistical models, and the methods can differ.

Is Player of the Match based on statistics alone?

Not always. Statistics are an important input, but many selections also consider how a performance influenced the result.

Conclusion

Player of the Match is about more than who scored the most runs or took the most wickets. It recognises the performance judged most influential in the context of the game, whether that is a quick cameo, a crucial breakthrough, a disciplined spell or a match-changing catch.

Next time you read a scorecard, look beyond the biggest numbers and ask which performance changed the game most.

How Player of the Match is decided

Why the highest scorer does not always win

Can a bowler win with fewer wickets?

What makes a performance match-winning?

A quick innings under pressure

Wickets at the right time

An all-round performance

A decisive fielding effort

Can a player from the losing team win?

Choosing Player of the Match in a local tournament

Give every performance a proper record

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

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