Rain in Cricket: Abandoned Matches, Reserve Days, and How the DLS Method Works
Rain is cricket's most disruptive external variable — a 5-day Test can be rendered into a draw by 3 days of rain; a one-day final can be rendered unfair by a 10-minute shower. Cricket's response: a range of rules for different formats. Tests use minimum overs thresholds and reserve days for ICC events. ODIs and T20Is use the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method to calculate revised targets when overs are lost. The DLS method is mathematically correct but frequently confusing to non-statistician fans — even expert commentators sometimes misexplain it.
Rain in Tests — minimum overs and draws: in Test cricket, rain causes the umpires to suspend play and take the players off the field. If the covers protect the pitch but rain continues, the day's overs are lost. At the end of each day, if the minimum overs have not been bowled (minimum 90 overs per day in Tests), time may be added to the end of the day to compensate (if conditions allow). If rain prevents any play on a full day: that day's overs are not recoverable — there is no 'make-up day' in bilateral Tests. Lost time in Tests typically benefits the team defending (drawing the match), since the batting team loses fewer overs of exposure to the bowlers. The D/L and reserve days in Test ICC events: the ICC's WTC Final uses a reserve day — an additional 6th day scheduled if play is lost. The 2019 WTC Final (New Zealand vs India) used the reserve day — Day 1 was completely washed out; play extended to Day 6. Reserve days are NOT used in bilateral Tests — only ICC events have the budget and scheduling flexibility for reserve days. The result without a reserve day: if rain prevents a result in a 5-day Test, the match is declared a draw — regardless of the match position (even if one team needed 1 run to win with 9 wickets in hand). This is considered one of cricket's enduring frustrations.
ODI and T20 Rain Rules — Minimum Overs'
ODI minimum overs: an ODI requires a minimum of 20 overs per side to constitute a match. If rain reduces the available playing time below the threshold for 20 overs per side, the match may be abandoned (no result). If 20+ overs are available after rain delays, a revised target is set using DLS. The toss significance after rain: if rain delays the start of a match and only 25 overs per side are available, the toss winner almost always fields first — batting second in a shorter match means: (1) fewer overs to preserve wickets (the opposition has already batted their full revised overs). (2) chasing a specific target (easier to pace an innings when a number is needed). T20 minimum overs: a T20 match requires a minimum of 5 overs per side to constitute a result. If fewer than 5 overs per side are possible, the match is abandoned (no result). The result of a 5-over T20: a 5-over 'super-slog' is largely a lottery — but the ICC prefers a result to an abandoned match where possible. The Super Over as a tiebreaker: if both teams end on the same score (a tie), or if rain stops a chase with the teams level before the minimum overs threshold, a Super Over is played (1 over per side, 2 wickets per team). The Super Over's Super Over: the 2019 World Cup Final (England vs New Zealand) tied in both the match AND the Super Over — the boundary countback rule was used (later replaced by a second Super Over system).
Reserve Days and ICC Tournament Rules'
ICC tournament reserve day system: for ICC knockout matches (semi-finals and finals in all ICC events), a reserve day is scheduled. If rain prevents a result on the scheduled day, play continues on the reserve day — starting from where it left off. Reserve day protocol: (1) If the match reaches a stage where DLS can determine a result (minimum overs bowled), the reserve day may not be needed. (2) If no result is possible from the scheduled day's play, the reserve day provides a complete additional day of play. (3) If the reserve day is also entirely washed out: ICC rules vary by event. In some events, if both main day and reserve day are washed out, the match is awarded to the higher-ranked team in the group stage. In knockout matches, both teams progress (both semi-finalists go to the final, or both finalists are declared joint winners — as happened in the 2002 Champions Trophy final between India and Sri Lanka). The 2021 WTC Final and reserve day: the 2021 WTC Final (NZ vs India) used a reserve day for genuine rain interruption — Day 5 was weather-affected and the 6th day was used to complete the match. New Zealand won on the reserve day, which added drama to the conclusion rather than diminishing it. T20 World Cup group stage without reserve days: group stage T20 World Cup matches do NOT have reserve days — if a group stage match is abandoned (insufficient overs), each team receives 1 point (rather than winner 2 points, loser 0). This creates a scenario where a top-ranked team can be eliminated by persistent rain in the group stage — which happened to multiple teams in the 2021 T20 World Cup (held in the UAE and Oman, where rain was minimal but the rule still applied in theory). Pitch preparation and rain covers: modern cricket venues have sophisticated pitch cover systems — the pitch can be covered within 3-5 minutes of rain starting, preserving the playing surface. The outfield dries more slowly. Modern super-soppers (large wheeled vehicles with vacuum-like suction) can remove standing water from outfields in 20-40 minutes after light rain. Heavy rain (5mm+) typically takes 45-90 minutes of drying after the rain stops before the outfield is safe to play on.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if it rains during a cricket match?
The umpires suspend play and the players leave the field. In Tests, lost time cannot be recovered (no make-up days in bilateral Tests). In ODIs and T20Is, rain triggers either abandonment (if minimum overs are impossible) or a revised DLS target (if minimum overs are still achievable). ICC knockout matches have reserve days — if the main day is washed out, play continues the following day from where it left off.
What is the DLS method in cricket?
Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) is the mathematical method used to set revised targets in rain-affected ODIs and T20Is. It calculates each team's 'resources' (a combination of wickets remaining and overs remaining) and adjusts the target proportionally when overs are lost. DLS replaced all previous rain rules in international cricket. Its core principle: overs lost during a batting team's death overs (when resources are most valuable) produce larger target adjustments than overs lost at the start.
What is the minimum overs for a cricket match to count?
Test cricket: no minimum overs requirement — matches can be declared draws at any stage due to rain. ODI cricket: minimum 20 overs per side (with DLS) for a result. T20 cricket: minimum 5 overs per side for a result. In ICC events, knockout matches have reserve days — if the minimum overs cannot be achieved on the main day, play continues on the reserve day. If both days are washed out, joint winners/shared points are typically declared.
What happens if both the match and Super Over are tied?
The 2019 World Cup Final (England vs New Zealand) tied on both the match total and the Super Over — England won on boundary countback (having hit more boundaries in the match). This was widely criticised as an unfair way to decide a World Cup Final. The ICC subsequently updated the rule: if a Super Over ties, a second Super Over is played, and so on until there is a result. The boundary countback rule has been removed for major ICC events.