Jackpot Master

In recent posts I've looked at "Going For The 9" and "Rage" (multiple types). Today we investigate the validity of another common catch-cry of the Popped Collars team, by finding out who truly holds the title of "Jackpot Master"

In the beginning, there was the jackpot ball. And Gareth said "let there be wickets upon the jackpot ball". And there was wickets upon the jackpot ball.

Early days
As I recall, the early title of "Jackpot Master" went to Gareth, for his apparently high success rate when bowling the jackpot ball (the first ball of each batting pair which is worth double-score). However, the stats show that this may have been an inaccurate conclusion on our part. The "Jackpot Master" crown in the early days should actually have gone to Brad, who in 2009 (our first 17 matches) had bowled 6 jackpot-balls for a total of -14 runs. He was the only regular player to have a negative total to his name. Unfortunately for Brad, 2010 arrived (more on that later).

Jackpot-pair
I had a theory that perhaps it was a single great performance that had given Gareth the unofficial title - perhaps he had a single match where he bowled two jackpot-balls for two wickets... but no - the only person to have acheived that for Popped Collars is Andy, in the first game of 2010.

Team-effort
The best team effort in a match is 3 jackpot-wickets. In the same game that Andy claimed a pair, Gareth also picked up a jackpot-wicket. In the ultimate irony, the only jackpot-ball that was not a wicket in that match was the first ball of the match - and indeed, the first ball of the year - which was bowled by the reigning 2009 Jackpot Master, Brad.... and it was hit for 7.

Conclusions
"Jackpot Master" : Andy
Of the 8 regular players, Andy currently has the best average runs/ball when bowling the jackpot. He is closely followed by Brad, who is being held up by his dominance in the early days.

"Jackpot God" : James
Just as many humans look beyond the earthly realm for something greater than themselves, so do I look beyond our regular team for divine performances. And there I find James. In his small number of games, he has bowled 3 jackpot balls, and maintained a perfect record. -30 runs.

"Jackpot Devil" : Steve (the real one, not to be confused with Sanjit's alter-ego)
If James is God, then logically Steve must be Satan. Being the opposite of James, he as the unenviable record of having bowled just one jackpot ball, for a total of 14 runs.

Name	Balls	Runs against	Runs/Ball
Andy	16	14	0.88
Brad	20	24	1.2
Xavier	18	42	2.33
Sanjit	16	38	2.38
Jake	44	106	2.41
Gareth	24	60	2.5
Julian	8	20	2.5
Rian	22	58	2.64