Bob
It might be time for a refresher on this topic; I feel that few fully understand the origin or rationale for “The Latitude Correction Factor (LCF)” in particular.
2007 was the year of the ICC World Cup. Bob ‘PJT suggested that a team competition might be added to BERU, partly to mirror the World Cup but also to add interest and hopefully lead to some increased participation. Back in 2007, there were 16 entries in the World Cup, all of which were from Commonwealth countries, the only exceptions bring Ireland and the Netherlands. Originally, the BERU teams consisted of 11 members but this was reduced to 10 the following year and 5 in 2012 as it was becoming difficult to muster a full cricket team and it was thought that a wider range of teams could be formed.
From the start, it was recognised that the scope for high scores was biassed towards the northern hemisphere and so the concept of the LCF was brought into play. This is based upon the ratio of the total scores of the winning north and south hemisphere teams over the 3 previous years. Where a “Rest of Commonwealth” or Traveller team has members in both North and South hemispheres, any member scores in the southern hemisphere are also subject to the LCF. I have calculated these factors every year since. A postulated LCF of 1.7 was suggested by Bob for use in the 2007 event.
Historically, the winners and associated LCF from 2007 are as follows:
2007 ZL 1.70
2008 VK 1.46
2009 ROC (all N) 1.34
2010 ROC (all N except for VP8NO) 1.40
2011 ROC (all N except for VP8NO) 1.59
2012 Team Carib / Atlantic (all N except for ZD7XF) 1.79
2013 VK 1.75
2014 VK 1.51
2015 Canada eh? 1.45
2016 Canada eh? 1.62
2017 Australia 1 1.78
2018 Australia 1 1.92
2019 Australia 1 1.68
2020 Australia 1 1.55
2021 Australia 1 1.46
Because the LCF is calculated over the previous 3 year’s Team results, there is a lag, so that for example, the 2018 LCF still increases following a win by Austalia 1 in 2017, taking into account the relatively easy Canadian win in 2015.
So how will it work out in 2022, when the LCF is likely to be at or near a historical low? Watch this space!
73, Peter G3LET