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• 06/25/2024
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Frank Duckworth, the renowned statistician and co-inventor of the Duckworth-Lewis method for determining results in rain-affected cricket matches, passed away on June 21 at the age of 84. The Duckworth-Lewis method, devised by English statisticians Duckworth and Tony Lewis, was first implemented in international cricket in 1997. The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially adopted it in 2001 as the standard for setting revised targets in truncated games. In 2014, the method was renamed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method following the retirement of Duckworth and Lewis and subsequent modifications made by Australian statistician Steven Stern.

Frank Duckworth, the co-inventor of the DLS method, dies at the age of 84

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Recognition and Impact

Duckworth and Lewis were awarded MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in June 2010 for their sports contributions. The DLS method replaced the controversial rain rule previously used to calculate targets in interrupted matches, which infamously affected the 1992 ODI World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa. In that match, South Africa’s target was recalculated to an impossible 22 runs off one ball, highlighting the need for a more equitable system.

Duckworth recalled in a 2007 interview that the impetus for developing the method came from a remark by BBC commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins, who lamented the inadequacy of the existing rain rule. Duckworth realized that it was a mathematical problem that required a mathematical solution, leading to the creation of the method.

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The DLS Method Explained

The DLS method is based on a complex statistical analysis that considers various factors, such as wickets remaining and overs lost, to set a revised target for the team batting second. This method has since been pivotal in ensuring fairer outcomes in rain-affected matches and maintaining the competitive balance between teams.

Frank Duckworth’s legacy will endure through the continued use of the DLS method, a testament to his significant contribution to cricket.