The raison de etre of statistics as a field is to uncover hidden patterns in data. Now, what is so esoteric or impalpable as "pressure"? I shall ignore the fact that pressure, (anxiety, actually) is a relative thing. The fundamental question to be asked is, what is the data that I get out of this graph? A simple graph that plots run rate over all overs bowled so far, reqd run rate at this point, with dots indicating the fall of a wicket is sufficient to judge the position of the team in a contest. I dont need to be accurate down to the 100th decimal place. I just need to know whether it is impossible, improbable, 50-50,likely,100% sure. I dont need a statistitian for that - I can tell from the score. Nobody needs a computer to tell them to abandon all hope of India winning a game.
Dhoni consults rediff's pressure meter to decide whether or not to defend or play agressively. In the dressing room, Sehwag, is also feeling pressure of a different kind. Not a man to be bogged down by the situation, he lets one rip, resulting in asphyxiation of 3 players and support staff. This results in rediff's pressure meter going off the chart...
Look ma! Rediff's axiety meter is off the charts! We are going to lose for sure now!
