DuckworthLewis

The Duckworth-Lewis method is a statistical model used primarily in cricket to adjust the target score of the second innings in a limited-overs match when the game is interrupted by weather or other unforeseen circumstances, leading to an unequal number of overs bowled by each team. Developed by statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis in 1998, the method aims to provide a fair comparison between the two innings by accounting for the resources (overs) available to each team.

The model calculates a "resource ratio" based on the number of overs each team has bowled, along with other factors such as the number of wickets lost. This ratio determines how much the target score should be adjusted to reflect the relative difficulty of achieving the original target under the given conditions. The Duckworth-Lewis method is widely used in limited-overs cricket, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and other major tournaments, to ensure fairness in such situations.

The original Duckworth-Lewis method was later refined into the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in 2001, with input from mathematician Steven Stern. The DLS method incorporates additional variables, such as the current run rate and the number of wickets in hand, to provide more precise adjustments. This updated version is now the standard for calculating revised targets in limited-overs cricket.

The method has been both praised for its objectivity and criticized for its complexity. Critics argue that the model can sometimes produce counterintuitive results, such as reducing a target even when a team has lost wickets early in the innings. Supporters, however, contend that it provides a statistically sound approach to adjusting scores in irregular match conditions. The Duckworth-Lewis method remains a cornerstone of limited-overs cricket, ensuring that results are determined by performance rather than luck.