12 overs for a bowler?
Kumble-chaired ICC cricket committee for ODI rule changes to strike balance between bat and ball.
The Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which will meet in city on Friday, is expected to recommend drastic changes to the existing playing conditions, particularly in one-dayers.
Among the key topics of discussion will be to explore ways to strike a balance between bat and ball in the 50-over format. An option to allow one or two bowlers 12 overs instead of the maximum10 overs for each bowler could be considered.
Of immediate importance, however, is scrapping one of the two contentious points – two balls and the clause of not having more than four fielders outside the 30-yard circle —something the Indian team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been opposing vehemently. The Anil Kumble-chaired committee is almost certain to push that agenda at the meeting.
Backing from Lanka, Pak
The committee is most likely to insist on dropping at least one of the two rules; and the general perception is that the BCCI is not alone in demanding the change. Sri Lanka and Pakistan too are apparently in favour of amending the rules, albeit for different reasons.
While Sri Lanka’s position is similar to that of India’s – that the fielding restriction renders spinners ineffective, Pakistan will push for doing away with two balls as its bowlers are more effective with the older ball and thus are able to bring reverse-swing into play.
More significantly, the BCCI is understood to have signed MOUs with different boards on the condition that the two rules will be changed in the new eight-year bilateral cycle, which commenced from April 2015. The BCCI is also understood to have made it a precondition that the boards will not insist on DRS while playing against India.
The review system, however, is unlikely to be untouched at the meeting. There has been a growing demand for introduction of ORS (Overall Review System) which will empower the third umpire to intervene in case of a wrong decision. The immediate demand would be to entrust no-ball adjudication to the third umpire so that the onfield umpire can focus more on other decisions.
Night tests to be discussed
Further, the cricket committee will focus on the issue of suspect bowling actions, for which the boards all over the world have ordered clampdowns. The target, it is learnt, is to eliminate illegal actions altogether before a bowler comes to international cricket. Among other things, night Tests is a topic that has inspired the managers of the world cricket.
The recommendations of the committee will go to the ICC Chief Executives Committee (CEC) which will then forward it to the all-powerful ICC board. Both the CEC and the board will meet in Barbados next month, which means the cricket committee’s decisions could become laws in just over a month’s time.
The committee consists of two former players, two representatives from players, one coach, one CEO of a board, one umpire, one referee, one representative from associate members, one statistician, one representative from the media and one woman cricketer. Among other prominent members of the committee are Ravi Shastri, Kumar Sangakkara and Darren Lehmann besides, of course, Kumble.
POINTS TO PONDER
♦ Effectiveness of two balls in ODIs
♦ Allowing five fielders outside the ring
♦ Permitting one or two bowlers 12 overs
♦ Update on DRS and exploring ORS
♦ Reducing burden on on-field umpires
♦ Night cricket (Tests)
The Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which will meet in city on Friday, is expected to recommend drastic changes to the existing playing conditions, particularly in one-dayers.
Among the key topics of discussion will be to explore ways to strike a balance between bat and ball in the 50-over format. An option to allow one or two bowlers 12 overs instead of the maximum10 overs for each bowler could be considered.
The impression is that while the best batsman has the sanction to bat all 50 overs, the strike bowler is permitted only 10 overs. “This is an area for improvement. No batsman is asked to retire after reaching century. Similarly, the bowler should be allowed a bigger role. It is to strike a balance,” said a member of the committee who will be attending the meeting. Even the ICC policy makers seem to be of the view.
Of immediate importance, however, is scrapping one of the two contentious points – two balls and the clause of not having more than four fielders outside the 30-yard circle —something the Indian team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been opposing vehemently. The Anil Kumble-chaired committee is almost certain to push that agenda at the meeting.
Backing from Lanka, Pak
The committee is most likely to insist on dropping at least one of the two rules; and the general perception is that the BCCI is not alone in demanding the change. Sri Lanka and Pakistan too are apparently in favour of amending the rules, albeit for different reasons.
While Sri Lanka’s position is similar to that of India’s – that the fielding restriction renders spinners ineffective, Pakistan will push for doing away with two balls as its bowlers are more effective with the older ball and thus are able to bring reverse-swing into play.
More significantly, the BCCI is understood to have signed MOUs with different boards on the condition that the two rules will be changed in the new eight-year bilateral cycle, which commenced from April 2015. The BCCI is also understood to have made it a precondition that the boards will not insist on DRS while playing against India.
The review system, however, is unlikely to be untouched at the meeting. There has been a growing demand for introduction of ORS (Overall Review System) which will empower the third umpire to intervene in case of a wrong decision. The immediate demand would be to entrust no-ball adjudication to the third umpire so that the onfield umpire can focus more on other decisions.
Night tests to be discussed
Further, the cricket committee will focus on the issue of suspect bowling actions, for which the boards all over the world have ordered clampdowns. The target, it is learnt, is to eliminate illegal actions altogether before a bowler comes to international cricket. Among other things, night Tests is a topic that has inspired the managers of the world cricket.
The recommendations of the committee will go to the ICC Chief Executives Committee (CEC) which will then forward it to the all-powerful ICC board. Both the CEC and the board will meet in Barbados next month, which means the cricket committee’s decisions could become laws in just over a month’s time.
The committee consists of two former players, two representatives from players, one coach, one CEO of a board, one umpire, one referee, one representative from associate members, one statistician, one representative from the media and one woman cricketer. Among other prominent members of the committee are Ravi Shastri, Kumar Sangakkara and Darren Lehmann besides, of course, Kumble.
POINTS TO PONDER
♦ Effectiveness of two balls in ODIs
♦ Allowing five fielders outside the ring
♦ Permitting one or two bowlers 12 overs
♦ Update on DRS and exploring ORS
♦ Reducing burden on on-field umpires
♦ Night cricket (Tests)
