The cruel effect of D/L method in One Day cricket has caused nightmare to many countries, while some become the victim of this statistics based very often in big tournament like the world cup, other country more or less found themselves on the wrong side of the outcome.
The demand of method to remove the imbalance in a rain affected ODI was first felt in 1992 world cup where in the semifinal between South Africa and England 12 minutes of rain had snatched the match away from a well placed South Africa. Nobody can forget that bizarre incident when SCG screen was showing SA have to score 22 runs from 1 ball.
So, the ICC had to seat for five more years to find out a method which can remove the disparity in rain affected ODI match.
It was in 1997 when for the first time ICC, ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) agreed to use the D/L method.
The method was invented by Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis. Frank is a consultant statistician and editor of Royal Statistical Society’s monthly magazine, RSS NEWS. Tony is a lecturer in mathematical subjects in the Faculty of Computer and Mathematics at the University of West England, Bristol.
Over the years the initiative has been taken to simplify the method. All one needs to implement the method is pocket calculator and table of numbers.
However, this method does not always restore parity in a rain affected match. It, more often than not, impairs a well built innings of a team batting first which spoils a well planed strategy of a captain.
For many time it has made a country to cry, have a look:
1) Royal London ODI series, 2015
During the second ODI between England and New Zealand at the Oval, the host was looking comfortable while chasing the New Zealand’s mammoth target 398/5. Before the rain interrupted England’s chase they had already accumulated 345 for seven wickets, needed 54 off 37 balls. But, when rain subsidd, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid came back to the pitch to resume their innings, the D/L method made their chase tougher. While they needed nine runs per over before the rain, now they have to vie for 15 runs per over as the new target had been set for them was 34 runs from 13 balls. As a result, England finally finished their innings 13 run short of reset target. England may have lead the series 2-1 instead of seating back in the five match ODI series.
2) South Africa and Rain, 2003 WC
South Africa were taking on Sri Lanka in their crucial final group B match. Sri Lanka winning the toss opted to bat first and amassed 268 runs for 9 wickets with the help of Marvan Atapattu’s prolific 124. Chasing 269 for victory, South Africa captain Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher added 63 for the sixth wicket to take their side to 212 for six. Pollock was brilliantly run out by Muttiah Muralitharan, but Lance Klusener and Boucher edged the hosts to 229 for six when persistent rain forced the players off. Confusion reigned as officials sought the Duckworth-Lewis sheets and it soon emerged that the match would end in a tie if the players were unable to return. Boucher had struck Muralitharan for six to reach 45 not out and he then failed to score from the last ball of the 45th over, which became the final delivery of the match. A single would have brought South Africa victory and a place in the next round. The umpires returned to the pitch around 35 minutes later and asked the ground staff to remove the covers but within moments the heavens opened again and the officials left the field for the last time.
3) D/L method made Rahul Dravid to end with defeat, 2011
In 2011, India were playing last ODI of a five match ODI series in England under the leadership Rahul Dravid. The match was farewell for former captain in ODIs. India batting first posted a huge 304 for 6 from allotted 50 overs. Virat Kohli’s 107 from 93 balls and Dhoni’s 50 helped India to set this total. Rahul Dravid had joined them too with his 69. It was seemed that India would manage a victory to give the veteran batsman a glittering farewell. But rain spoiled thier plan. Rain did not disturb India during their innings except at the beginning. But when England were chasing the target rain very often interrupted their innings. Rain forced umpire to start the second innings of the match late, it came once again when England were 53 for one. Later, rain interrupted the innings two more time. Umpires Billy Doctrove and Nigel Long had been forced to apply the D/L method, England were set a target of 241 from 41 over. In the 28 over England had crossed 200 runs with six wickets in hand found no difficulty to chase down the remaining 41 runs from more than 60 deliveries. immotional Rahul Dravid ended his 344 match illustrative ODI career with a defeat.
4) South Africa’s world cup jinx, 2015
After the heartbroken 1992, 1999 and 2003 world up exit, South Africa once again became a victim of rain. It was the 2015 world cup first semifinal against the host New Zealand in Auckland. South Africa were looking positive to set a big total for the host. At 216 for 3 on 38 over, du Plessis (40) and AB de Villiers (60) were looking for long shots around the wicket, rain came to ruin South Africa’s strategy, umpires applied D/L method, seven over lost, match become 43 per side game. A disappointed South Africa once was eying for 350 plus score finally they had to stop at unsatisfactory 281 for five. New Zealand were chasing 299, which they had no problems as that target on home ground was pretty doable. From the beginning they planned to score from the every ball. Their planned worked well; Grant Elliott alone smashed the match ending six off Dale Steyn over the long to give NZ a four wicket win. South Africa once again brought down to cry.