Scoring from playground to ODI arena (!) continued from page 29runs accrued by his favourites, Denis Compton <strong>and</strong> Bill Edrich.I didn’t have pictures of pop stars adorning the walls of my bedroomwhen I was a teenager, but cricketers. I used to know the namesof all the cricketers <strong>and</strong> for which county teams they played. (Ofcourse this was in the days when there was far less movement betweenthe teams <strong>and</strong> there were only 17 first class counties!)I was lucky enough to go to a girls’ school which actually playedcricket <strong>and</strong> I went around the north of <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> with the team on a regularbasis. However they soon found out that I was far more proficientwith the pencil than with either the bat or the ball, so it is to that PEmistress I am indebted for showing me how to score.My son’s cricket club,Liphook & Ripsley in Hampshire,soon found out that therewas a mother who, not onlyknew how to score, but actuallyenjoyed doing it, which was abonus for them, <strong>and</strong> within thefirst year of scoring for the colts,I was “discovered” by the then1 st team captain, who asked mewhether I would be interested inscoring for his team. Havingagreed to do the “odd” homegame, within two years not onlywas I doing every home game,but also every away game too!Fortunately I have a very forbearinghusb<strong>and</strong>, who didn’t mind my being out each Saturday. Well itwas that or having to tag along to matches with me, which, for a noncricket-lover(gasp-shock-horror!!!), was an anathema! He has mellowedslightly some twenty-odd years later!Over the next few years I had several umpire <strong>and</strong> scorer colleagueswho nagged me to become qualified through the ACU&S, <strong>and</strong>I became ever more involved in several clubs <strong>and</strong> sides who wantedme to score for them including the Royal Marines (my father had beenin the RM during WWII) who took me with them on tour twice toSouth Africa.Eventually I was asked to score for Somerset U17s which I thoroughlyenjoyed. As a consequence of this I was asked to fill in for theSecond XI scorer when he became ill <strong>and</strong> when the post was advertisedthe following year I applied <strong>and</strong> was fortunate enough to be appointed.I now score mainly for Somerset Second XI but also for other teamswhen my schedule permits. This means that I score some hundred daysplus each year – if this wonderful British weather allows!!!I was also lucky enoughthis year to be invited by theACCS committee to scorealongside David Kendix atLord’s for the <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> v AustraliaODI on 29 th June. It was amarvellous experience <strong>and</strong> Ithoroughly enjoyed it althoughit was not the first time that Ihad scored at Lord’s. It wasgreat being able to show mypass which allowed me accessto the scorebox <strong>and</strong> the Players’Dining Room, <strong>and</strong> quite rightlythe reputation which it has forfine dining is richly deserved. Iwas also given complimentarytickets for two guests so my husb<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> a family friend were able tocome <strong>and</strong> enjoy the day too.I feel very lucky to do a job that I thoroughly enjoy, <strong>and</strong> where notwo days are the same. There are too many people whom I have met<strong>and</strong> who have encouraged me along the journey, but I thank each <strong>and</strong>every one wholeheartedly. You know who you are!Response to queries on the application of the D/L method continued from page 28A proper approach to this assertion is toexamine the long-term proportion of matcheswon by Team 2, first in matches that have notbeen interrupted <strong>and</strong> then in those that have.About 52% of uninterrupted matches on averageare won by Team 1 <strong>and</strong> about 48% byTeam 2.Our extensive data base of D/L affectedmatches (in excess of 1,500, for which wedo not distinguish between 40 or 50-overmatches) shows that Team 1 <strong>and</strong> Team 2wins are almost in exactly the same proportions.Although for a particular match situationa win by Team 2 might well be easy,these statistics show that there is clearly noevidence for a systematic bias towardsTeam 2.Target too easy for Team 2?The match referred to by the correspondentwas in fact between Derbyshire <strong>and</strong> Kent.An extract from our database follows.Case 93/12 CB40 (40)Derbyshire v Kent, Derby31/7/12Derby 46/4 in 13; rain, 26 lost/side62/5 in 14Target 67 in 14Kent 68/1 in 10.5Kent won by 9 wktsThe fundamental principle of the D/L methodis that target setting is based upon the resourcesavailable to the two teams <strong>and</strong> theuse they have made of those resources todate, which may reflect to some extent theconditions at the match.At 46/4 in 13 overs, Derbys had not gotmuch return for the expenditure of their resourcesof 4 top-order wickets <strong>and</strong> 13 overs.At this point, even surviving to complete 40overs would have been a tough prospect.Consequently, a well below average finaltotal in 40 overs could have been expectedbased on current performance per unit of resourceconsumed (around 142 is an approximateprojection). As we know, much canhappen in cricket to turn a game around - ifthe weather permits - but in this case theweather didn’t give them much chance. Thatis not the fault of the D/L method! Whatmight otherwise have happened in the lostovers is only speculation.So based on this well-below-par performanceby Team 1 (even though scoring 16 inthat final over) they are not “let off the hook”by the D/L method <strong>and</strong> Team 2 are rewardedby having to score the only slightly enhancedtarget of 67 in 14.[It should be noted that had Derbys lostonly 3 wickets in the first 13 overs (i.e. lessresources consumed) then the target for Kentwould have been 80 in 14.]e-mail us at ecbaco@ecb.co.uk 30 contact us on 0121 446 2710Setting targets based on wickets lostThe correspondent is proposing a “moving”target in such a match. Whatever the proposedmechanism of doing this we believesuch a concept is contrary to the objectives ofthe game <strong>and</strong> would change its nature. Wehave always felt that the rain rule should fitwithin the nature of the game as it is <strong>and</strong>should not change it.In an uninterrupted game, in order to winTeam 2 have to exceed whatever Team 1made in their overs quota (<strong>and</strong> the number ofwickets lost by Team 1 in achieving thisscore is irrelevant). Team 2 have the samenumber of overs <strong>and</strong> all their ten wickets (irrespectiveof the number of wickets lost byTeam 1).In an interrupted match, according to theD/L method, Team 2 are set a target <strong>and</strong> atthe start of their innings they have all theirwickets available to achieve it. This is consistentwith the nature of the game <strong>and</strong> theD/L method fits within this.The correspondent’s suggestion would bea substantial change in the way the one-daygame is played following interruptions <strong>and</strong>we could not support it.Many other correspondents have suggestedadjusting wickets in the rain-rule calculation.See also our response to a FAQ onthis (FAQ10 athttp://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/page/581925.html)Frank Duckworth <strong>and</strong> Tony LewisNovember 2012
Christmas ChallengeThe Scratchers have challenged the Notchers to yet another fireside fixturethis year. Readers are invited to accept the Challenge by completing the scorecard <strong>and</strong>giving the result of the following match. Please send your entry (limited to one per reader,please) to The Third Umpire, 60 The Lawns, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire, DE13 9DB toarrive by first post on 11th January 2013 (or email johnmbrown60@gmail.com): please markyour entry <strong>ACO</strong>. All entries will be examined <strong>and</strong> the names of all those whose entries are correct will beput into the Umpire’s hat, from which the winner of the prize will be drawn at r<strong>and</strong>om.You are invited to solve the clues in order to discover how many runs each player scores. You shouldrecord all these scores in batting order, <strong>and</strong> complete your solution by giving the result of thematch. Normal Laws of <strong>Cricket</strong> apply (no special regulations). There are no trick questions, <strong>and</strong> allrelevant information is provided in the clues.The Scratchers’ XI (batting first)1. The last hour is scheduled to start at 6.30pm. The players left thefield for rain at 6.12pm after four balls of an over had been bowled.Play resumes at 6.55pm: what is the minimum number of ballswhich remain to be bowled?2. The last hour starts at 6.30pm: it rains at 6.42pm after 4.3overshave been bowled, but the rain stops as soon as the players haveleft the field. The players return <strong>and</strong> the next ball is bowled at6.44pm. What is the minimum number of balls which remain to bebowled?3. … But play stops for rain again at 6.57pm after a total of 9 overshave been bowled in the last hour. Play starts again at 7.10pm -what is the minimum number of balls which remain to be bowlednow?4. A fielder leaves the field for treatment at 3.17pm <strong>and</strong> returns at3.56pm. At how many minutes after 4 o’clock will he be allowed tobowl?5. That same fielder leaves the field again at 4.12pm <strong>and</strong> returns at4.22pm. At how many minutes after 4 o’clock will he be allowed tobowl?6. The striker hits the second ball of an over, the batsmen run one <strong>and</strong>had not crossed on their second run when a fielder deliberatelyobstructs the non-striker who falls to the ground. How many runsshould be added to the total?7. … And how many balls remain in the over?8. The toss is made at 2.10pm for a match which is scheduled to startat 2.30pm: how many minutes does the captain winning the tosshave before he must notify his decision whether to bat or to fieldfirst?9. The striker plays a second shot at the fifth ball of an over in orderto protect his wicket – the ball goes to third man <strong>and</strong> the batsmencomplete one run before the ball is returned to the wicket-keeper.How many runs should be added to the total?10. … In the same situation (i.e. after the striker has played a legitimatesecond stroke), after the batsmen have crossed on the first run, afielder throws the ball at the stumps, but misses <strong>and</strong> the batsmencomplete a further two runs. How many runs should be added to thetotal?11. … And which batsman would face the next ball – Striker (5) ornon-striker (10)?The Notchers’ XI1 The striker plays no stroke at a fair delivery <strong>and</strong> the ball runs off hispads to the gully fielder. The fielder sees the striker st<strong>and</strong>ing out ofhis ground, throws the ball at the stumps <strong>and</strong> hits them, but thestriker is back in his ground. The ball ricochets <strong>and</strong> the batsmen run2. How many runs should be added to the total?2. In a 3-day match Side A have made 347 in their first innings: howmany runs must Side B score in order to avoid the possibility ofbeing asked to follow on?3. What is the maximum number of minutes for which a pitch may berolled between innings?4. The striker plays no shot at a No Ball, <strong>and</strong> the ball goes off his padsto the boundary: how many runs should be added to the total?5. What is the maximum number of accidental high-pitched ballswhich a bowler may bowl in an innings before he is suspendedfrom bowling in that innings?6. The striker hits the ball, the batsmen run <strong>and</strong> have completed tworuns, but not crossed on the third when a wild throw hits thefielder’s helmet lying on the ground. How many runs should beadded to the total?7. The bowler delivers the ball, but, in doing so, breaks the wicket atthe bowler’s end. The striker hits the ball to the boundary - howmany runs should be added to the total?8. The striker plays a defensive shot, but misses the ball whichdeflects off his pads: he then plays a second stroke with his bat inorder to protect his wicket. A fielder overthrows the ball to theboundary - how many runs should be added to the total?9. … Would these runs be recorded as Extras (5) or credited to thestriker (10)?10. The striker hits the ball, the batsmen run 3, but both umpires signalShort Run. After consultation the umpires agree that they had bothsignalled for the first run: how many runs should be added to thetotal?11. The striker hits a No ball in the air towards the boundary, where afielder catches the ball, but touches the boundary rope with his footbefore throwing the ball back to the wicket-keeper. How many runsshould be added to the total?Extras: … How many inches wide is the protected area?Extras: The striker hits a ball towards the boundary, the batsmen run 3, afielder stops the ball just inside the boundary rope, goes to throw theball, but it slips out of his h<strong>and</strong> over the rope behind him withoutbouncing. How many runs should be added to the total?Result:e-mail us at ecbaco@ecb.co.uk 31 contact us on 0121 446 2710