Revisit two new balls rule in ODI matches
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar remarked that using two new balls in One Day Internationals is a perfect recipe for disaster as each ball will not get enough time to get old and reverse swing.
Indian captain Virat Kohli too believes that two new balls will be brutal on bowlers.
Two new balls were introduced in ODI cricket in October 2011 where each ball gets used only for a maximum of 25 overs in an innings.
This move made it difficult for pacers to generate the reverse swing and also made life difficult for spinners as they were forced to bowl with the shine still on the ball and hence unable to spin.
The think tank that introduced this change justified their decision saying that when only one ball was used, the white ball would get dirty quickly, thus making it tough to sight the ball in the dusty subcontinental wickets.
They also felt that two new balls will help bowlers in seaming conditions and reduce the impact of the One-day format being talked of as purely a batsman’s game.
Interestingly, what happened is the reverse. With bowlers unable to reverse swing and spinners not able to spin, huge totals emerged.
Attract crowds
If sighting the ball was the reason, all that was needed was to get umpires change the ball during situations when the ball got too dirty.
Similarly, if two news balls were introduced to also assist bowlers, should it be at the expense of pacers being prevented from reverse swinging and reducing the effectiveness of spinners?
It very clear that authorities want high scoring matches to attract crowds. They are looking at batsmen hitting sixes rather than struggle against reverse swing and spin.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni had once suggested that it would be better to use bowling machines instead of getting the bowler to turn his arm and be hit. Today, any bowler, irrespective of his form and talent, can be thrashed. Spinners may soon not get picked in the eleven.
To ensure more runs are scored, most outfields are like ice skating rings, so that ball races to the boundary in a flash. Rule makers should ensure that there is enough grass on the outfield so fielders can chase it down before reaching a boundary.
Batsmen should create records by toiling against top class spin and reverse swing.
Cricket will be exciting to watch only when there is the right balance between bat and ball.
The game should never be one dimensional making a mockery of the bowlers. In the mad frenzy to rake in cash, no one likes a match to get over quickly; but if bowlers are not allowed to shine, the charm of a One-day format too will be lost soon.
Cricket will be exciting to watch only when there is the right balance between bat and ball. The game should never be one dimensional making a mockery of the bowlers.