T20 World Cup 2022: Are reserve days a viable solution for cancelled matches?
Rain and ICC events have a long history. The weather gods have often changed the course of a tournament
Rain: Spoil-sport for T20 World Cup 2022The ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia has proved one of the most unpredictable editions in recent years.
However, one factor that is slowly coming into focus is the weather conditions. Rain has affected or threatened to affect almost every other match.
Due to rain, three Super 12 games have already been called off. Ireland made their MCG debut with a surprising five-run victory over England, assisted by weather and the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Today again, both the matches are called off due to rain.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can I also ask why in Sri Lanka where they get huge thunder storms they cover all the ground & get play back on quickly … Why hasn’t the MCG been totally covered for the last 2 days ????? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustAsking?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustAsking</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCT20WorldCup2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICCT20WorldCup2022</a></p>— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1585898496477253632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What is the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method?
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern technique (DLS) is a mathematical formula used to compute the target score (number of runs required to win) for the side batting second in a limited-overs cricket match interrupted due to weather or other factors. The Duckworth-Lewis approach (D/L) was developed by two English statisticians, Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis (not to be confused with former cricketer Tony Lewis).
Criticism of Duckworth - Lewis method
a) The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern approach has been criticised since wickets are a far more highly weighted resource than overs, leading to the claim that if teams are chasing significant objectives. There is a chance of rain, so a winning strategy could be not to lose wickets while scoring at what appears to be a "losing" pace (e.g. if the required rate was 6.1, it could be enough to score at 4.75 an over for the first 20–25 overs).
b) Criticism The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern approach is more frequently accused of being overly complex and susceptible to misunderstanding by cricket fans and journalists. For instance, on March 20, 2009, the West Indies coach (John Dyson), thinking that his team would win by one run using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, brought his players in for bad light, not realising that the loss of a wicket with the final ball had changed the Duckworth-Lewis score. According to the match referee Javagal Srinath, the West Indies fell two runs short of their objective, handing England the victory.
Is T20 World Cup 2022 becoming more of a game of chance than a game of skills?
Looking at the current rain conditions and matches being called off every day in Australia, reserve days are recommended to postpone rain-affected matches to have a fair chance for every team.
In 2019, reserve days for rain-affected matches were denied by ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson.
Given the event's lengthy timetable, the sport's governing body claims reserve days were not an option.
"Factoring in a reserve day for every match at the World Cup would greatly lengthen the competition and practically would be extremely difficult to achieve," said the ICC's outgoing Chief Executive, Dave Richardson, in a statement.