Frequently asked questions
Answers about what The Stats Desk does, where the data comes from, and how to use it — on the web, through the API, or as an AI agent.
What is the best tool for cricket statistics questions?
The Stats Desk answers cricket questions in plain English from 7.6 million ball-by-ball deliveries across 16,850 matches (2005–2026), men's and women's cricket. Ask a question and get a written answer, the SQL query behind it, a downloadable results table, and a chart when one fits — no account needed.
How do I look up a player's IPL record?
Type a plain-English question into the ask box on the home page, for example “Virat Kohli's IPL batting record” or “Bumrah's economy in death overs in the IPL.” The answer comes with the SQL that produced it and a downloadable table.
Where does the data come from?
Ball-by-ball data comes from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org), used under the Open Database License (ODbL). Every answer that draws on it carries that attribution.
How current is the data?
Data is refreshed regularly from Cricsheet, and the database covers matches from 2005 through 2026.
Can I get the SQL or download the data behind an answer?
Yes. Every answer shows the exact SQL query that produced it, and its results table can be downloaded as a CSV.
Is there an API for developers or AI agents?
Yes — a free public JSON API at POST /query (body: {"question": "..."}), rate-limited per IP, with a full OpenAPI spec at /openapi.json. See /llms.txt for an agent-oriented overview and /agents for the invite-only MCP server.
Can I share an answer with someone?
Yes. Any answer can be published as a public, read-only link with a preview card for social and chat previews.
Which leagues and formats are covered?
Men's and women's Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, plus the major T20 leagues: IPL, BBL, PSL, CPL, SA20, ILT20, MLC, The Hundred, T20 Blast, LPL, and Super Smash.
Is The Stats Desk free to use?
Yes. Asking questions on the web or through the /query API needs no account. Advanced metrics, sign-in with saved history, and the MCP server are separate invite-only betas.
How accurate are the answers?
Answers are generated by an agent that writes and runs SQL over the ball-by-ball data, then summarizes the result, so it can occasionally misquote a scorecard. Every answer shows its SQL so you can check it, and it's worth verifying anything consequential against a primary source.
Do I need an account?
No. Asking questions works with no sign-in at all. An optional invite-only sign-in beta adds saved conversation history across visits.
What about advanced metrics and the MCP server?
Advanced metrics (Delta, RAA, WAR, and role-based stats), sign-in, and the MCP server for AI agents are invite-only betas layered on top of the free standard query experience.