Mathematician Tony Lewis, one of the most vital people who devised Cricket’s famous Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method has passed away at the age of 78. The former University lecturer who brought a revolutionary change in cricket by introducing a run-chasing mechanism in case of any disruptions passed away. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced this in a statement saying:
“It is with much sadness that the ECB has learned of the passing of Tony Lewis MBE, aged 78,” said a statement.
“Cricket is deeply indebted to both Tony and Frank’s contributions to the sport. We send our sincere condolences to Tony’s family.
“Tony, alongside fellow mathematician Frank Duckworth, devised the Duckworth-Lewis method which was introduced in 1997 and adopted officially by the ICC (International Cricket Council) in 1999.
“Renamed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method in 2014, the mathematical formula continues to be used in rain reduced limited overs cricket games across the globe.”
Lewis, along with his fellow mathematician Frank Duckworth formulated the run chasing method which was first used during the second ODI played between Zimbabwe and England in 1996-97. ICC officially adopted the rule during the 1999 World Cup. However, in 2014, mathematician Steve Stern also made some adjustments in the rule, considering the changes in modern-day cricket. The revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method was adopted by the ICC during the 2015 World Cup in Australia.
The need for introducing a run-chasing mechanism in case of rain was already felt after the infamous semi-final match between England and South Africa in the 1992 World Cup. South Africa needed 22 off 13 balls which was chasable but due to the rain, the target was revised to 21 runs in one over which left the South African side totally devastated.
Commentator Martin-Jenkins made a public appeal to come up with a better methodology in run chasing if the match is interrupted by the rain. It was then the that Duckworth-Lewis method was framed by the two mathematicians.
