Better than Duckworth-Lewis - Inbox at Cricinfo

Let us ponder for a moment. Are we really doing the best by simply noting down the number of wickets and overs left in quantifying the batting team's resources? We haven't really accounted for the quality of the wickets and the quality of the bowlers who are going to bowl the overs. Less runs are likely to be scored when great bowlers like Shane Warne and Glen McGrath bowl the overs than when good bowlers like Ian Blackwell and Liam Plunkett bowl them. In a similar vein, more runs are likely to be scored when we have a Ricky Ponting and Matt Hayden at the crease.

Thus, a sure way of improving the D/L method is to incorporate the current form of the batsmen and bowlers into determining the number of runs that will be scored. While the above argument seems reasonable, we seem to have walked into the realm of subjectivity and personal tastes. How do we determine whether Sachin Tendulkar is better than Owais Shah, and if that is the case, how many more runs is he likely to score? Thankfully, there is already a system in place to compare player and quantify their current form.

The official LG ICC player rankings use a sophisticated algorithm to capture the current form of players by assigning bowling and batting points between 0 and 1000. The points reflect not just the number of runs scored and wickets taken but also the circumstances, manner and the team against which they were secured. Sophisticated heuristics can now be developed to integrate the rating system with the DL method to determine the exact manner in which the bowling points and batting points are to be incorporated into the DL method.

For example, the actual number of overs and wickets available may be scaled depending on the scores of the batsmen and the bowler bowling the overs. The effective resources can then be used in the DL method. From an implementation perspective, the entire procedure can be worked out through software, thereby minimizing human intervention and any consequent errors. The only infrastructure that is required is a computer that can connect through the internet to the LGG ICC database to download the latest player points.

Fair comments but, speaking as one who has used DL extensively, the one complaint that currently comes from the public is that the DL method is too complicated / hard to understand. If you factor in match-by-match variables, then you open up the risk of the system being too complicated.

The other question to ask is where does one draw the line - how do you deal with non-international players in domestic matches (who have no international ranking). How about pitches changing as the season progresses, pitches' behaviour in day or floodlit matches etc etc. The other factor is you don't know who might or might not bowl the remainder of the innings - if conditions underfoot were wet but not unplayable, would you risk your out and out pace bowlers, or use spinners to get through some overs ?

@SD: Thanks a lot for the feedback. Here is my response.

1. Honestly, I don't see why players and the general public should understand the details. The goal should be to get the best possible rule in place. Not the simplest. Wouldn't you agree?

2. I had addressed the issue of debutantes in an earlier remark.

3. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Where does one draw the line? We could, and perhaps should, include the ground. Isn't 1 run scored at Perth more valuable than 1 run scored at Mohali?

3. I think the bolwing team should nominate the bowlers who they will want to bowl. Actually, you have a very valid point.

@anand: I agree. We should get the Ram Srinivasan rule in place:).

Just to build on SD's comment.Isnt there a problem in determining quality of bowling resources.Say,even if captains nominate their bowlers before hand while calculating the revised score,what if the bowler picks up an injury and has to leave the field(not sure this will occur frequently).But one very certain thing is,what if the bowler gets hammered in one over and the captain wants to change him.Then as per ur rule do we go back and revise the target again ?A simpler solution would be covered stadiums,like the ones we have in australia or an even simpler solution is to schedule matches with some common sense,like dont schedule matches in chennai during NE monsoon.After all rain can be predicted to a reasonable degree of certainity and International cricket is played only in abt 10 countries,we are a small community,isnt it ? Overall,i think taking into consideration the quality of batsman and not merely no.of wickets is a good idea but it requires some more work on other aspects