Dynamic programming in cricket: choosing a night watchman

Dynamic programming in cricket: choosing a night watchman

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Article ID: iaor20041659
Country: United Kingdom
Volume: 54
Issue: 8
Start Page Number: 838
End Page Number: 845
Publication Date: Aug 2003
Journal: Journal of the Operational Research Society
Authors: ,
Keywords: programming: dynamic
Abstract:

In cricket, when a batsman is dismissed towards the end of a day's play, he is often replaced by a lower-order batsman (a ‘night watchman’), in the hope that the remaining recognised batsmen can start their innings on the following day. A dynamic programming analysis suggests that the common practice of using a lower-order batsman is often sub-optimal. Towards the end of a day's play, when the conventional wisdom seems to be to use a night watchman, it may be best to send in the next recognised batsman in the batting order. Sending in a night watchman may be good judgement when there are several recognised batsmen and several lower order batsmen still to play (say four of each). However, with smaller numbers (two of each, for example), then, with very few overs left to play, it may be better to send in a recognised batsman.

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