Re: QF Australia vs. Pakistan 20th March 2015 @ Adelaide (3rd QF)
Actually, if it is up to me, I would not take a player as batsmen in team with SR below 80 (irrespective of their average), and that also I would do if I have some players in team to compensate them with SR above 120. But having SR 72 is bad compromise (even if player has Ave 44.5 … or … Ave x SR = 44.5 x 72 = 3204). But if no capable players are available, than compromises have to be made.
ODI game is mix of Ave plus SR. In most cases, it is SR that matters most, as long as accumulative Average of players are enough to play 300 balls (well, due to unpredictability of the game, let say 350 balls). In the end, it is SR that would increase the score.
For instance, if team has all players with Average 55 and SR 60 (Ave x SR = 3300) than team on average would make 180 runs in 300 balls, loosing 3 to 4 wickets (due to Average 55).
But if Ave is 33 and SR 100 (Ave x SR = 3300) than it means team on average would make 300 runs in 300 balls losing 9 to 10 wickets (due to average = 33).
It shows that since limited number of balls are available in ODI, a player whose average is 33 and SR 100, is better than player with Ave 55 and SR 60.
For instance: I believe Australia would win this world cup (or should win most of the time with team they have) even though SA and India have players with higher averages, and that is because SR of 7 Australian players are ~90 and 2 have SR above 110 (one have SR 126). Actually, Australian players on average have better SR than any team playing this world cup. So, on average they have more chance of posting or chasing over 300 runs against top class bowlers, than any team in this world cup.