1. CONCEPT OF HEADWAY-START(HANDICAPPING) IN THE
GAME OF
CRICKET
Presented By
Raof Ahmad Bhat
Research Scholar
Department of Physical Education,
Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh

2. INTRODUCTION
• The history of cricket dates back to the sixteenth century in
England, However, at international level, matches (in the
form of test cricket) started around 1877. The limited over
cricket was introduced in the late 1960’s, however at the
international level the first game of such format was played
in 1971. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has
sought to make cricket more popular and many strategies
was adopted by ICC with the intention of making cricket a
faster and more exciting spectacle that might attract a new
audience.

3. In cricket, the battle between two teams is key, if one team
comes to dominate the other, the game will become
predictable and less enjoyable to play and watch. Keeping this
in view, MCC and ICC hopes to safeguard the traditional
balance of the game by introducing a handicapping system
(Headway-Start) on trial basis in the game of cricket. The
proposed system of handicapping by ICC includes, lower
ranked teams will be able to use wider bats, and higher ranked
teams will have to defend wickets that are up to 60% taller
and to feature a fourth stump. It was also proposed that
consideration will be given to claim one- hand-one- bounce
catches by weaker sides and capping the innings of world’s
top ten (10) batsmen at 50 runs
Cntd.

4. The proposed trail based system sounds somewhat strange. The
researcher observes that this is a mathematical problem and it needs a
mathematical solution. ICC hopes that the introduction of handicap
will make cricket more cerebral, fair and strategic game. The changes
will promise a dynamic and competitive new era in cricket, at far less
cost and much more quickly than, for example, trying to make west-
indies good again, or teaching Pakistan to catch but unfortunately no
such method was introduced till today to made cricket fair and
equitable for associate and affiliate countries. To equalize the chances
of winning, particularly between the weak and strong contestants, the
researcher is currently working on “HEADWAY- START IN THE
GAME OF CRICKET, THROUGH MATHEMATICAL
MODELLING.”
Cntd.

5. HEADWAY-START (HANDICAPPING)
• Headway-start also known as Handicapping, in sports and games is
the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or
other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the
chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods
by which the advantage is calculated. Handicapping is used in
scoring many games and competitive sports, including Go, Chess,
Golf, Bowling, Polo, Basketball and Horse Racing.
In positioning, a “headway- start” is a start in advance of the
starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the
finish line or desired outcome. Depending upon the situation, a
head start may be inherent, obtained by special privilege, earned
through one’s accomplishments, or granted mercifully by an
opponent. While not guaranteeing success, a head start will
increase such chances.

6. EXAMPLE
• Australia and Ireland are playing against each other; a
general observation is that Australia is favourite i.e.
Australia has more chances to win based on their
previous accomplishments. Now batting first Australia
made 300 for instance. Ireland has to make 301 to win.
The objective of the study is how much, 50 runs, 70
runs or 100 runs, Ireland should be kept ahead to
equalise the chances of winning.

7. OBJECTIVE
• The study under going currently is ideated with
the objective of finding out production functions
and to develop a mathematical model that can be
used by cricketing authorities to give Headway-
Start in the game of cricket.

8. HANDICAPPING IN OTHER SPORTS
Handicapping in Horse Racing:
• Horse Racing is one such sport where handicapping is
used. A handicap horse race is a race where each horse is
set to carry a weight, allocated according to the horse’s
ability, in an attempt to equalise every horse’s chance of
winning.
Handicapping in Golf:
• The purpose of the handicap system is to make Golf more
enjoyable and to enable golfers of different abilities , men
and women alike, to take part in various forms of
competitions on an equitable and fair basis.

9. • Polo is one among such sports which uses the handicap
system to make it fair and equitable for all contestants. Polo
players are rated by their peers on a scale of 2 to 10 goals(
The term’ goal’ indicates the players value to the team). The
player handicaps range from ‘Novice’ to ‘Perfect’(10
Goal).About two thirds of the players carry a rating of 2 goals
or less, a small number of players advance beyond 3 goals. A
rating of 2 goals and above usually indicates a professional
player in polo handicapping system.
Polo

10. SIGNIFICANCE
 The major significance of the study is to equalize the
chances of winning between the weak contestants against
their strong counterparts of cricketing world.
• To ensure that every team’s handicap rating gives it a
theoretical equal chance of success on its best recent form
under its optimum conditions.
• In recent years, several teams have fallen behind the
stronger nations of cricketing world due to combination of
factors. In order to re-levelise this, the headway start in
cricket would be helpful.

11. • The ICC has recently proposed HEADWAY-START among
test playing nations, this will bring a dynamic and
competitive new era in cricket at far less cost and much
more quickly.
• To achieve a competitive match with a close finish with a
view to providing an exciting sporting spectacle. Owners,
trainers and the betting public should feel that their team
has a chance of winning for as long as possible in a match
• To aim for competitive betting in handicap matches,
thereby indicating that the betting public believe that
teams have a reasonable chance of success.
Cntd.

12. The study will have economical value too, International
Cricket Council (ICC) has to spent same amount of
money on every match whether it is between India and
Australia or India and Ireland. The former because of an
exciting sporting spectacle, will generate more revenue
as compared to later.
Cntd.
The study will contribute to make the game of cricket
more enjoyable and more exciting spectacle by
enabling teams of different abilities to compete on
equitable basis.

13. • For stronger teams many more variations mean the
game is more refreshing, challenging and
interesting. They may be more willing to play and
teach the weaker players.
• Weak competitors can choose their opening
strategies according to their own understanding of
the game and thus follow a consistent strategy.

14. CONCLUSION
• The Headway-start if introduced in the game of cricket has
the potential of bringing dynamic and competitive new era
in cricket, moreover the associate and affiliate members of
the ICC will get a chance to play with full members of
cricketing world on an equitable basis. This will prove
very helpful for weaker contestants to improve their game
and for stronger teams many more variations means the
game is more interesting and challenging