Frank Duckworth

Frank Duckworth
MBE
Born(1939-12-26)26 December 1939
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England
Died21 June 2024(2024-06-21) (aged 84)
OccupationStatistician
Known forDuckworth–Lewis method, Risk perception

Frank Carter Duckworth MBE (26 December 1939 – 21 June 2024) was an English statistician who co-developed the Duckworth–Lewis method of resetting targets in limited overs cricket matches interrupted by weather or other circumstances.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Duckworth was born on 26 December 1939 in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.[4] He attended King Edward VII School, Lytham, now part of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School,[5] then went on to study physics (BSc Hons 1961) and earned a PhD (1965) in metallurgy, both at the University of Liverpool.[6]

Career

Prior to his retirement, he worked as a mathematical scientist for the English nuclear power industry.[7] He was a consultant statistician to the International Cricket Council,[8][9] and the editor of the Royal Statistical Society's monthly news magazine, RSS News, until he retired from both these roles in 2014.[10] He also served on the editorial board of Significance before stepping down in 2010. In 2004 he delivered the Royal Statistical Society Schools Lecture, entitled Lies and Statistics.[11]

In 1962, Duckworth was a tenant of John Lennon's aunt.[12]

Duckworth is also known for developing a system of quantifying personal risk perception,[13] now known as the "Duckworth scale".[14]

Death

Duckworth died of cancer on 21 June 2024, at the age of 84.[15][16]

Awards and recognition

Duckworth was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to the Royal Statistical Society and to Cricket.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Frank Duckworth, co-inventor of DLS method, dies at the age of 84"
  2. ^ Longmore, Andrew (16 May 1999), "First Night: Duckworth–Lewis: The odd couple getting even with the weather", The Independent, London, retrieved 2 May 2010
  3. ^ Richards, Huw (18 February 2003), "How two statisticians became stars", The New York Times, retrieved 2 May 2010
  4. ^ "Frank Duckworth — England", ESPNcricinfo, ESPN, retrieved 31 December 2011
  5. ^ "Tony bowled over by MBE honour", Longridge and Ribble Valley News and Advertiser, 17 October 2010, archived from the original on 21 August 2019
  6. ^ University of Liverpool Alumni Newsletter:Queen's Birthday Honours list 2010, July 2010
  7. ^ The D/L Method in One-day Cricket: Twelve years on Archived 2009-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. Announcement for talk by Duckworth at the Australian National University, 20 February 2009
  8. ^ Duckworth to review D/L method, slams Indian rival, MSN, 17 June 2009, archived from the original on 19 June 2009
  9. ^ "Duckworth, Lewis to attend World Cup Forum in Antigua", Jamaica Observer, 3 December 2005, archived from the original on 9 July 2009.
  10. ^ RSS News Editorial Team Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Statistical Society.
  11. ^ RSS Schools Lecture (Guy Lecture) Archived 2009-07-12 at the Wayback Machine and Past RSS Schools Lectures Archived 2009-07-12 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Statistical Society
  12. ^ "Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, the men who let it be right when it rains", The Times, 15 April 2011, retrieved 24 August 2018
  13. ^ Ezard, John (16 July 1999), "Riskometer measures life's ups and downs", The Guardian, London, retrieved 2 May 2010
  14. ^ Belsky, Gary (8 September 2008), "Editor's blog", ESPN Magazine
  15. ^ "Frank Duckworth MBE 1939–2024", RSS, retrieved 25 June 2024
  16. ^ "Frank Duckworth obituary: inventor of cricket's Duckworth-Lewis method", The Times, 26 June 2024, retrieved 14 July 2024
  17. ^ "No. 59446", The London Gazette (Supplement), 12 June 2010, p. 15