Cool cricket? Why not try these rules?

IBig shot: If the Hundred organisers were to embrace change properly, they would consider rewarding the best aerial shots

When only one batter is left, allow them to complete innings solo

t is time for a new honours board at Lord’s. No longer will it suffice for the MCC, that long-standing bastion of the game, to recognise five-wicket hauls. Courtesy of the Hundred, bowlers will now target “outs” instead of “wickets”.

The news that the England and Wales Cricket Board is ripping up cricketing convention by changing the terminology of the sport will undoubtedly antagonise many accustomed to a game they love for all its quirks.

But perhaps it provides an opportunity for even greater change. Goodbye tradition. Hello new rules:

1 One-hand, one-bounce catches

The single greatest rule in the history of garden, playground and street cricket. Makes it easier to take wickets … sorry, I mean “outs”, which means a quicker turnover of batters and more opportunity for Gif-able super catches to tick the social media shareability requirement.

2 More runs for certain “scoring zones”

Everyone knows a six driven over cover is better than one slogged over cow corner, so let us give it due credit. Clearing the boundary rope between mid-off and mid-on is worth eight, between point and mid-off 10, and between third man and fine leg 12. Speaking of which …

3 Six and out

Another backyard cricket classic. If we are going to reward the best aerial shots, we should punish the worst ones. Hoicks over midwicket will signal the end of a batter’s innings. If you clear the rope but miss a designated “scoring zone”, your time at the crease is over.

4 Hit and run

Quite frankly, if someone makes contact with the ball and does not run when they have only 100 opportunities to do so, they do not deserve to continue their innings anyway. Get moving.

5 No more short leg or long leg

Potentially offensive to people with below or above-average length lower limbs. Replace with close leg and far leg.

6 Tape can be applied to the ball

Many amateur cricketers will be familiar with that feeling of joy after hooping the ball the width of a pitch when bowling with a half-taped tennis ball. Just imagine what Wasim Akram could have done with one of those bad boys. Wonder no more because tape is legal.

7 Allow bowlers to bend their arms

Big hits and fast bowling are the basic currency of short-form cricket, so why insist on making it so difficult for bowlers to achieve high speeds? Legalise chucking and make every delivery a 100mph ball.

8 Last-batter standing

Cricket is played by 11 people on each team, yet only 10 have to be dismissed for an innings to end. Scrap that. When only one batter is left, allow them to complete their innings solo with a team-mate at the other end as a runner.

9 Super player

You know how you pick a captain in fantasy football or fantasy cricket, and whatever they do counts for double? Time to make fantasy a reality. Imagine the game-changing impact a “super player” scoring a century would have if it counted for 200. If a “super player” bowler gets an “out” then another batter must be sacrificed to ensure it counts for double.

10 Bats that reduce in size

A cricket bat is not allowed to exceed 10.8cm in width, but to truly test the skill of a batter it should reduce in size the more runs that are scored. If one centimetre was removed for every 25 runs scored, a centurion would be left wielding a piece of willow no wider than 6.8cm. And on the subject of bats ...

11 Bats should be called blades It sounds way cooler.