Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T10:46:56.601Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A not-so-flawed draw

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2016

M. C. Jones
M. C. Jones*
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

People seem to regard the draw for the quarter-finals of what appears to have been the 1988 Benson & Hedges Cup in cricket as having been bungled: a quote from the relevant authority is that it was “an embarrassing cock-up”. Well, I'm not so sure! To start with, the draw as made—unlike some others!— was perfectly fair. The draw had to be restarted twice (this is what concerned observers) and so there is a question of efficiency of the chosen method of drawing. In fact, in seeking alternatives, there arise interesting questions of balancing efficiency, “excitement” and the (generally innumerate) public's perception of fairness. Let me explain!

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 75 , Issue 471 , March 1991 , pp. 23 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © The Mathematical Association 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Dennett, J.R., “Cricket and derangements.” Math. Gaz. 74, 2–5 (1990).Google Scholar
2. Gillis, J., “The statistics of derangement-a survey.” J. Statist. Phys. 58, 575–578 (1990).Google Scholar
3. Jones, M.C., “The World Cup draw’s flaws.” Math. Gaz. 74 (Dec. 1990).Google Scholar