U19 World Cup represents an acid test for Duckworth Lewis

Heavy rains and no reserve days, apart from the final, mean that the Duckworth Lewis method is likely to be employed with an unprecedented frequency in this Youth World Cup. Never before has the method played such an important role in an international tournament.

The Duckworth Lewis method is a technique that is now being widely used to recalculate the target in the event of rain. The strength of the Duckworth method is the fact that it is able to take account of wickets lost, runs required and overs remaining. At the start of a run chase a side has a total number of resources (50 overs and 10 wickets). When wickets are lost and overs are completed the total resources available to the batting are similarly reduced. At the end of the first innings a Duckworth calculation is made and a unique table is constructed. If there is more than one interruption then more calculations will have to be made.

In the 1999 World Cup, which was held in the U.K., the Duckworth Lewis method was used. However the existence of reserve days, ensured that the technique was employed rarely. In the Zimbabwe- West Indies game at the NCC ground, it had to be used when play was called off with 19 overs remaining.

Unfortunately the system, despite being superior to simple run rate calculations, is extremely complicated and can produce quirky targets.

The other interesting factor is that Duckworth Lewis affected matches will not be used in Net Run Rate calculations. Thus any interruption of play for more than 40 minutes will immediately prevent its use in net ran rate calculations.

With the technique likely to be used frequently in the tournament, the biggest test is yet to come for the method. The questions raised are: is it too complicated? How will it affect strategy? Will the toss now be more important? Will the sides have to hire the services of mathematicians?

The other question mark that looms in the minds of those present here is, does the BCCSL have the capacity to carry out these calculations? The farcical situations that have so far arisen with the official scoring suggest, that they may not, and that we may be in for plenty of confusion over the next fortnight.

Whilst the method may be fairest it should be used as a last resort. With no reserve days scheduled, we are faced with the prospect of a multitude of unfinished matches. This will be bad for the players, the spectators and cricket. However don't blame Mr Duckworth, blame the organisers.