The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method for cricket was co-developed by statistician Frank Duckworth, who passed away last week at the age of 84, according to a Tuesday announcement from the Royal Statistical Society (RSS).
The statement released by the RSS said, “Fellows will be saddened to learn that [Frank] Duckworth passed away on June 21, 2024.”
Up until 2014, Duckworth served as an ICC consultant statistician. He collaborated with mathematician and lecturer Tony Lewis, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 78, to develop the DLS method, which is used to recalculate targets in cricket limited overs matches that are interrupted by rain.
Prior to the DL technique, objectives in abandoned games were determined using the rain rule, as was the case in the notorious 1992 ODI World Cup semifinal between South Africa and England.
2014 saw the approach rebranded with the addition of Australian statistician Steven Stern’s name following certain revisions.
In 2010, Duckworth received the distinction of being named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of his contributions to the game.
In response to his passing, Wasim Khan, General Manager of Cricket Operations at the International Cricket Council (ICC), sent his family condolences and stated, “Duckworth was a top statistician who was respected by peers as well as the wider cricket fraternity.”
