Statistics are useful only with context. A number without role, format, venue, opponent, and sample size can mislead.

This chapter gives you the background that childhood sports followers usually collect slowly through repeated matches, arguments, highlights, and newspaper reports. Read it as a foundation, then attach the ideas to real sports news using the source links below.

Separate career stats from current stats. Career average tells long-term level; recent form tells current readiness. In cricket, average and strike rate must be read with format. In football, goals must be read with position, minutes, and team style.

Records compare history; rankings compare current position. A record can be permanent for years, while rankings move regularly. Do not treat a ranking as destiny.

A careful sentence sounds like this: 'The number is strong, but we should check the opposition, venue, format, and sample size.' That one sentence protects you from bluffing.

Suppose a headline uses this topic but gives very little background. Do not begin by arguing. First identify the event and competition. Second identify the role of the main player, team, number, or condition. Third explain the consequence in one calm sentence. In this chapter, the first words to watch are average, strike rate, sample size.

Read this chapter once for meaning, then open one source below and find a real example of the topic. Add three notes to your sports notebook: one vocabulary word, one sentence of context, and one question for later.

Take one player stat and add three context words: format, opponent, and venue.