Frank Duckworth, the co-creator of the Duckworth-Lewis (later Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) method used to determine results in rain-affected cricket matches, died on Friday, June 21, at the age of 84.
Pioneering a new standard
Duckworth, along with fellow English statistician Tony Lewis, devised the original method, which was first implemented in international cricket in 1997. The International Cricket Council (ICC) formally adopted it in 2001 as the standard for setting revised targets in truncated games. In 2014, the method was renamed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to acknowledge the contributions of Australian statistician Steven Stern, who made further modifications after Duckworth and Lewis retired.
Recognized contributions
Both Duckworth and Lewis were honored with MBEs in June 2010 for their significant contributions to cricket. The DL method replaced the previously used rain rule, which had caused controversy, most notably during the 1992 ODI World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa in Sydney.
Legacy and impact
Duckworth served as a consultant statistician with the ICC until 2014. His work has had a lasting impact on the game, ensuring fairer outcomes in rain-affected matches.
“Frank was a top statistician who was respected by peers as well as the wider cricket fraternity. The DLS method that he co-created has stood the test of time and we have continued to use it in international cricket more than two decades after its inception,” said Wasim Khan, the ICC general manager – cricket operations, in a press statement. “Frank’s contribution to the game has been immense and the world of cricket is poorer with his death. We send our condolences to his family and friends.”