Data methodology
How FairPlay's cricket data works
Every score, result and scorecard on FairPlay comes from one cricket data feed, is checked before it is shown, and carries the time FairPlay last confirmed it. This page sets out where the data comes from, how often it is checked and what you see when it is late.
Last updated:
Data status right now
Data feed: Connected- Last successful update
- Sun, 4 Oct, 00:02 IST
- Matches in play now
- 3
- Successful data checks, last 24 hours
- 8,543
Read from FairPlay's own records when this page loaded. Live pages show the same check time on every match.
Where the data comes from
FairPlay's match data comes from Sportmonks, a sports data provider, through its Cricket API. FairPlay's servers request the data; your browser never contacts the provider, and the access key stays on FairPlay's servers.
FairPlay does not take betting odds or rates from Sportmonks or anyone else. Every FairPlay rate is set by FairPlay's own engine from verified results, as explained on the rates page.
What FairPlay takes from the feed
- Fixtures, start times and venues
- Live scores, overs and match status
- Toss result and playing XIs
- Batting and bowling scorecards
- Ball-by-ball events for recent deliveries
- Teams and competitions
- Final results
What is in FairPlay's database
Counted from FairPlay's own records each time this page loads.
| Records | Count |
|---|---|
| Competitions with a result in the last 12 months | 86 |
| Teams with a result in the last 12 months | 499 |
| Venues used in the last 12 months | 290 |
| Results in the last 365 days | 2,980 |
| Fixtures still to start | 116 |
| Matches with a full scorecard | 72 |
| Results used for team ratings | 6,003 |
| History fetched (30-day windows, out of 24) | 24, from 12 October 2024 |
How often FairPlay checks
One background service makes every request. It stays within the provider's hourly request limits and keeps part of each limit in reserve, so fetching history never crowds out the fixture list or the final scorecards of matches that have just ended.
| Data | How often |
|---|---|
| Live scores while a match is in playChanges are pushed straight to open pages. | Every 5 seconds |
| Scoreboard when no match is in playPicks up a match as soon as play starts. | Every 30 seconds |
| Fixture list, 2 days back to 10 days aheadStart times, venues, toss and status. | Every 60 seconds |
| Line-ups and ball-by-ball during playSlower for long Test matches. Paused for 2 minutes after a failed call, while scores keep updating. | At most every 30 seconds |
| Line-ups before a match, full scorecard after itMatches that have just ended are fetched first. | One match every 30 seconds |
| FairPlay ratesAlso re-checked after a live change, no more than once every 15 seconds. | Every 60 seconds |
| Team ratingsAlso rebuilt shortly after new history arrives. | Every 6 hours |
| Match historyUntil the last 24 months are complete. | One 30-day window every 2 minutes |
How match status is decided
The feed's status text decides what FairPlay shows. A match is marked live only when that status says play is under way. FairPlay never marks a match live just because its start time has passed.
A Live badge also needs a recent check: it appears only if the match was confirmed by the feed in the last 2 minutes. Otherwise the card shows the time of the last confirmation instead.
| Feed status | Shown as |
|---|---|
| NS, Not Started | Upcoming |
| 1st Innings to 4th Innings, Live | LiveOnly these statuses make a match live. |
| Innings Break, Lunch, Tea, Dinner, Stumps | BreakShown in the feed's own words, such as “Tea”. |
| Int., Interrupted, Delayed | InterruptedShown in the feed's own words. |
| Finished | Result |
| Aban. | Abandoned |
| Cancl. | Cancelled |
| Postp. | Postponed |
| Anything else | Status unconfirmedNever shown as live. |
When data is late or missing
Live badges expire
If a live match is not reconfirmed within 2 minutes, its Live badge is replaced by the time it was last confirmed.
Last verified data, clearly dated
If the feed cannot be reached, pages keep the last verified scores with the time they were checked, and say that the feed is delayed or unavailable.
Rates suspend
A FairPlay market is suspended when its match has not been confirmed for 15 minutes, and every price expires 15 minutes after it is set unless it is re-confirmed. Toss markets close 45 minutes before the scheduled start; match markets close at the start.
Nothing is filled in
FairPlay never fills a gap with an estimated score, an expected line-up or a figure from another source. A missing scorecard or line-up is shown as not available yet.
Checks before anything is shown
- Format check. Every response is checked against the format FairPlay expects. Records that fail are rejected and logged, not shown.
- One record per match. Matches are stored under the feed's own match number, so a repeated or corrected record updates the same match instead of creating a duplicate.
- India Standard Time. Times are stored in universal time and every date and time is shown in IST.
- Unconfirmed teams. Sides listed as “TBC”, “TBA” or “TBD” are not treated as real teams. Their matches are kept out of search listings, and they are left out of the team counts on this page, until the teams are named.
- Request limits. When the provider asks FairPlay to slow down, FairPlay waits and shows the last verified data with its time, rather than guessing.
Corrections
When the feed corrects a score, result or line-up, FairPlay picks up the change at the next check for that match and every page showing it updates. Corrected results flow into team ratings at the next rebuild, within 6 hours.
If a match changes after a FairPlay rate is published, for example a new start time or venue, its market is suspended until the price is checked again. When betting opens, bets will be settled only from the official result after a correction window; the settlement section of the rates page explains how.
Feed facts and FairPlay calculations
From the data feed
Scores, results, toss, line-ups, scorecards, ball-by-ball events, fixtures, venues and competition names.
Calculated by FairPlay
Team ratings and model estimates, statistics tables, form and head-to-head summaries, the live updates feed and FairPlay rates.
Time period behind each page
| Page | Matches included |
|---|---|
| Results | Last 365 days |
| Statistics | Last 12 months |
| Team and competition pages | Last 12 months |
| Head-to-head in match analysis | Last 24 months |
| Team ratings and model estimates | Every stored result with a winner |
| FairPlay Live updates | Last 48 hours |
More questions about live data? See the FAQ, or go straight to live cricket scores.