The 2011 World Cup was the first in history to have an average run-rate of more than five per over, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.
The average run-rate stood at 5.03 per over in the tournament that concluded on Saturday, an ICC statement said.
The previous highest was 4.95 runs per over in the 2007 edition in the West Indies. This trend goes on to show how scoring rate has changed since the early editions in 1975, 1979 and 1983, when 60-overs-a-side matches were played.
In contrast to the overall trend of an increasing run rate, the average runs per wicket has remained consistent throughout the history of the competition. This is with the slight exception of 1979, which was played in disappointing weather early in the English summer.
"The statistics are a clear illustration of the exciting cricket that was played during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011," said David Richardson, ICC General Manager (Cricket).
