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The 'nervous nineties' is a well-known cricket colloquialism that implies that batting within reach of 100 runs is mentally demanding. Despite common acceptance of this phenomenon, no study has used a historical test cricket dataset to examine how batting behaviour and performance changes on approach to a century. Accordingly, we explored opensource ball-by-ball data from 712 test cricket matches played between 2004 and 2022 to model the regression discontinuity of batting performance metrics either side of 100 runs. Models were fit using multi-level regression, adjusted for the clustering of balls within players (and where possible, the clustering of matches and innings within players). The analysis revealed that runs per ball and the probability of scoring a boundary increased as batters approached 100 runs. This was followed by a decline of -0.18 runs per ball (95% CI -0.22 to -0.14) and a three-percentage point decline (95% CI 2.2 to 3.8) in the probability of a boundary once a batter reached 100. The modelling revealed no evidence of a change in the probability of a dismissal before and after 100. Our results suggest many batters cope effectively with the psychological demands of playing through the nineties, including by batting aggressively and/or opportunistically to swiftly reach the milestone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide clustering occurs when multiple suicide incidents take place in a small area or/and within a short period of time. In spite of the multi-national research attention and particular efforts in preparing guidelines for tackling suicide clusters, the broader picture of epidemiology of suicide clustering remains unclear. This study aimed to develop techniques in using scan statistics to detect clusters, with the detection of suicide clusters in Australia as example. Methods and Findings: Scan statistics was applied to detect clusters among suicides occurring between 2004 and 2008. Manipulation of parameter settings and change of area for scan statistics were performed to remedy shortcomings in existing methods. In total, 243 suicides out of 10,176 (2.4%) were identified as belonging to 15 suicide clusters. These clusters were mainly located in the Northern Territory, the northern part of Western Australia, and the northern part of Queensland. Among the 15 clusters, 4 (26.7%) were detected by both national and state cluster detections, 8 (53.3%) were only detected by the state cluster detection, and 3 (20%) were only detected by the national cluster detection. Conclusions: These findings illustrate that the majority of spatial-temporal clusters of suicide were located in the inland northern areas, with socio-economic deprivation and higher proportions of indigenous people. Discrepancies between national and state/territory cluster detection by scan statistics were due to the contrast of the underlying suicide rates across states/territories. Performing both small-area and large-area analyses, and applying multiple parameter settings may yield the maximum benefits for exploring clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]