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Rain comes to play - Source: Getty Images -
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It's about time that the ICC dumped Mr Duckworth and his chum Lewis out of the shortest version of the game, writes tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
As if Twenty20 cricket needed to become even more of a lottery. The hit and giggle spectacular is already akin to tossing a coin when deciding a result.
In the last week alone Zimbabwe, yes that's right Zimbabwe, have upset Australia and Pakistan in World Cup warm-ups and they were 20-over affairs.
Over the last two days, however, the Guyana rain has interrupted all four World Cup fixtures and what has played out is an overwhelming advantage for the team batting second.
England captain Paul Collingwood was rightfully fuming yesterday after his side suffered an eight-wicket loss to the West Indies despite scoring a formidable 191.
In normal circumstances, hopes of a West Indies victory would have faded with the departure of Chris Gayle, but a revised total of 60 from six overs was a relatively easy equation for the home side as they cantered to victory with one ball to spare.
If a six-over match sounds ridiculous, then there is little comfort in the fact that the ICC is willing to slip to a five-over contest under the Duckworth-Lewis system.
"There's a major problem with Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game," Collingwood told reporters after the match. "I've got no problem with it in one-dayers ... but it's certainly got to be revised in this form. Ninety-five percent of the time when you get 191 runs on the board you are going to win the game. Unfortunately Duckworth-Lewis seems to have other ideas and brings the equation completely the other way and makes it very difficult."
Even Mr Duckworth himself concedes that there is a problem.
"The ICC ought to look into whether five overs for a valid match is appropriate, because you can get this apparent distortion," he told Cricinfo.
And both of them are right. Since 2005, 10 Tweny20 internationals that have used the Duckworth-Lewis method have resulted in the team batting second winning seven times.
Gayle, clearly in the knowledge of this not so startling fact, admitted after the match against England that he chose to bat second in the knowledge that if rain intervened, his team would have an advantage.
And so it proved - but what to do?
Well, this hack is far from a mathematical genius, so let's leave the equations to Duckworth and his cronies, but there could be merit in employing a wicket quota to the chasing innings.
Meaning if the contest was restricted to 10 overs, then the team batting second would only have five wickets at their disposal for their run chase. Six overs? Try three wickets.
If the system was applied yesterday, West Indies would have been in a precarious position when they lost both Gayle and Keiran Pollard and were 41/2.
It's far from perfect but it's an improvement and if Twenty20 cricket wants to be taken seriously it needs to come up with a solution - and fast.
What do you think the solution is to rain delays in Twenty20 matches?
Add a Comment:
Post new commentkiwi666 said on 2010-05-05 @ 18:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
Twenty20 matches are a joke. its what team players have there money on that wins. betting in sport just makes the game a joke
The Slickster said on 2010-05-05 @ 15:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
Ha what a joke! Why not just have one over game so we can all get on to something better to do!