Frank Duckworth

English statistician (1939–2024)

Frank Duckworth
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)[1][2] 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.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Duckworth was born in 1939 in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. He attended King Edward VII School, Lytham, now part of King Edward VII and Queen Mary School,[6] then went on to study physics (BSc Hons 1961) and earned a PhD (1965) in metallurgy, both at the University of Liverpool.[7]

Career

Prior to his retirement, he worked as a mathematical scientist for the English nuclear power industry.[8] He was a consultant statistician to the International Cricket Council,[9][10] and the editor of the Royal Statistical Society's monthly news magazine, RSS News, until he retired from both these roles in 2014.[11] 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.[12]

In 1962, Duckworth was a tenant of John Lennon's aunt.[13]

Duckworth is also known for developing a system of quantifying personal risk perception,[14] now known as the "Duckworth scale".[15]

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.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Frank Duckworth — England". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Frank Duckworth MBE 1939–2024". RSS. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  3. ^ https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/frank-duckworth-co-inventor-of-dls-method-dies-at-the-age-of-84-1440876
  4. ^ Longmore, Andrew (16 May 1999), "First Night: Duckworth–Lewis: The odd couple getting even with the weather", The Independent, London, retrieved 2 May 2010
  5. ^ Richards, Huw (18 February 2003), "How two statisticians became stars", The New York Times, retrieved 2 May 2010
  6. ^ "Tony bowled over by MBE honour". Longridge and Ribble Valley News and Advertiser. 17 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019.
  7. ^ University of Liverpool Alumni Newsletter:Queen's Birthday Honours list 2010, July 2010
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Duckworth to review D/L method, slams Indian rival, MSN, 17 June 2009, archived from the original on 19 June 2009
  10. ^ "Duckworth, Lewis to attend World Cup Forum in Antigua", Jamaica Observer, 3 December 2005, archived from the original on 9 July 2009.
  11. ^ RSS News Editorial Team Archived 2008-12-23 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Statistical Society.
  12. ^ 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
  13. ^ "Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, the men who let it be right when it rains". The Times. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  14. ^ Ezard, John (16 July 1999), "Riskometer measures life's ups and downs", The Guardian, London, retrieved 2 May 2010
  15. ^ Belsky, Gary (8 September 2008), "Editor's blog", ESPN Magazine
  16. ^ "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 15.