To NIL or not to NIL, that is the question

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To NIL or not to NIL that is the question? This is not a question that many of us have to consider but that doesn't stop us talking about it anyway.

When a bowler has a commanding lead in a singles match and heading for a 21-0 result should they offer their opponent some relief by gifting a point at one end to save them the ignomy of their teammates by saving them from being Nilled?

Some bowlers on the wrong end of that experience would rather their opponent didn't present them with such a gift as it goes against the spirit of the game offering to lose an end. It demeans the contest and makes the loser feel cheap. But it saved them from the record books showing a 0-21 against their name.

One good argument against gifting an end is the case that says that bowling is a team game and giving an opponent a point means it is one less point going against their team's aggregate total which could be crucial in the final match result. You can add to that the belief of some that gifting a point and subsequently giving the jack to their opponent for the next end could be the start of a revival and may cost more than the one-point gifted.

An alternative view might be that thrashing an inexperienced bowler is demeaning and could damage them in the longer term and even put them off bowling altogether.

Does it apply equally in a pairs game as much as it does in a singles game? Probably, but it doesn't carry the same burden of guilt and ineptitude that a singles game has. I watched the Julie Fuller Trophy final at Golcar Lib a couple of weeks ago. Three pairs games on the green at the same time and one pairs game finished after 9 ends with a 21-0 result.

In that instance I don't believe that the winning pair had any choice other than to go for the ultimate 21-0 scoreline. They didn't know how the other two pairs matches were going and if they had gifted their opponents a point and then lost the final by one point how could they ever face their own teammates ever again?

The match circumstances may be different and may be known to the bowler cruising to a 21-nil win so does that mean the offer should stand or not? Why should it be any different if the match position is different?

This can only be answered by a bowler put in that position and it may be a different answer depending on the prevailing circumstances and the relationship between the two bowlers. Some opponents I would gladly have enjoyed nilling, others would receive my sympathy but maybe not my gift. In the heat of a match it is best not to be distracted by thoughts of a final score which may result in the decision being made for you by bowling a loose end.

At the end of the day it has to be an individual decision and whichever way you go will always be wrong in someone's eyes.

[ DICTIONARY FOOTNOTE } In the context of sports, particularly British sports, "nil" is used to indicate a score of zero. It is derived from the Latin word "nihil," meaning "nothing."

"Nilled" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "nill," which is an archaic term meaning to be unwilling or to refuse. It's rarely used in modern English. 

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