‘DLS’ – KNOW WHEN TO USE IT

Reference at the time of writing this article: ICC Playing Conditions as of 2022 for both Men’s and Women’s ODI and T20I.

Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method is an integral part of the modern-day limited over cricket. Everyone has a strong opinion about it with varying degrees of understanding. Some have understood the concept and methodology of calculation, and some only use the readily available DLS calculators–either because they feel it is tough to understand or they feel there is no need to understand.

The use of DLS is not necessarily about how the calculations are carried out. The readily available calculators generally require few numbers to be entered as inputs which are nothing but the factual information available in front of us from the game that has so far taken place. What is more critical is to know “when to use it”.  So, let us read through to understand this critical aspect of the DLS.

First and foremost, let us be clear that DLS is used to compute the revised target for the team batting second when the overs get revised during the game. Let us be clearer that it is used only and only when the overs get revised after the commencement of the game. Some of the cases are pretty clear and  straightforward, but some cases require clarity. So, let us see each of the cases in detail ranging from simple to complicated scenarios for better understanding.

Scenario #1: The game is interrupted during the innings of the team batting second and no further play is possible.

Here, if the number of overs bowled when the game was interrupted is at least the minimum number of overs required to constitute a game (20 overs in an ODI and 5 overs in a T20I), then irrespective of the actual target DLS is used to announce the result.

Scenario #2: The game is interrupted during the innings of the team batting second and resumes with revised overs.

Here on resumption as the overs were revised, the DLS method is used to give a revised target for the team batting second. The target which was in place earlier when the game was interrupted is no more applicable.

Scenario #3: The game is interrupted during the innings of the team batting second who were already chasing a revised target due to a previously interrupted incident and resumes with further revised overs.

Here on resumption as the overs were further revised, the DLS method is used to give a re-revised target for the team batting second. The revised target which was in place earlier when the game was interrupted is no more applicable.

Scenarios #2 and #3 reiterate the fact that the DLS method has to be used every time there is an interruption resulting in a revision of overs.

Scenario #4: Due to a delayed start, the game itself commenced with a reduced number of overs with no further interruptions in the game.

Here, though the revision of overs has taken place from the originally scheduled number of overs, the game will go on like a normal game without any target interference from the DLS method.
Whatever target the team batting first gives at the end of the innings shall remain as it is for the team batting second. 

Now, let us look at the next couple of scenarios which are interesting and very critical. Here, the focus is specifically on the revision of overs due to interruptions during the innings of the team batting first.

Scenario #5: After the commencement of the game with the originally scheduled number of overs, the game is interrupted during the innings of the team batting first and the game resumes with the revised overs.

Even though the game was interrupted and resumed during the innings of the team batting first itself, at the end of the innings of the team batting first, the DLS method is used to compute a fresh target for the team batting second.

Scenario #6: Due to a delayed start, the game itself commenced with a reduced number of overs. After the commencement of the game, the game is interrupted during the innings of the team batting first and the game resumes with the re-revised overs.

Similar to the previous scenario, at the end of the innings of the team batting first, the DLS method is used to compute a fresh target for the team batting second.

The idea behind using the DLS method under scenarios #5 and #6 is due to the fact that the revision or further re-revision of overs is done with respect to the number of overs with which the game itself commenced.

All these scenarios from #1 to #6 simply cover all the situations that can arise in a game that requires the assistance from DLS method to take the game to its conclusion.

Additional Information: In BCCI’s domestic games, V. Jayadevan (VJD) method is used in place of the DLS method. Though the computation methodology is different in both systems, there is no change in
“when to use it“.