Finally, ICC Revises Rules

“Finally, ICC has thought about us”-Vinay Kumar

ICC, in its effort to make the life of the bowlers easier during the game, made a certain number of changes in the rules of the ODI format. Now the bowlers will be allowed five fielders outside the circle for the last 10 overs and the batting powerplay has been scraped off.

The increasing no. of 400 plus scores in ODI’s, which a few years earlier looked like dreams, has forced ICC to make these changes. Vinay Kumar was one such bowler who got the beating from the Australians giving away 102 runs from 9 overs in 2013. The Karnataka medium-pacer, despite leading his state side to back-to-back Ranji titles, never got another chance to play for India.

“Finally, the ICC has thought about us. With the batsmen playing innovative shots, I can’t say that the balance has shifted in favour of bowlers. But, at least, the rules will give us some protection, it is a positive move by the ICC and I applaud it,” Vinay Kumar told TOI.

He feels that bowlers can be more aggressive and look for wickets without fearing about giving away too many runs.  “Now, the games will be more challenging. We can bowl more aggressively and go for wickets. Earlier, the batting side took the batting Powerplay between 36-40 overs. Then, with four fielders outside the circle in the last 15 overs, they used to go on a rampage. Now, with five fielders, chances of getting a wicket are more,” he said.

Match referee and Indian legend Javagal Srinath believes that the bowlers will get more protection with more men allowed in the last ten. “The games were getting a little one-dimensional. The batting side was inclined to preserve their wickets so that they can go for broke in the last 15 overs. It was given that there would be a deluge of runs towards the end if the batting side didn’t lose too many wickets. Now, following the rule changes, the batsmen will have to think of different strategies, said Srinath.

In the past two years when that rule had been operational, 4 double hundreds, 2 by Rohit Sharma and one each by Chris Gayle and Martin Guptil had been scored. 400 run mark was breached 6 times which showed the ease with which runs were coming. Former Indian opener Krisnamachari Srikkanth, feels that the batsmen who are good will still get the runs. “You cannot possibly contain a Chris Gayle or an AB de Villiers from scoring the runs. But the change of rule will make the batsmen think a little more, he said.

Vinay feels that the batsman will now look to score more in the middle overs, a period where they earlier used to preserve wickets and score run a ball. “Earlier, the batsmen would have looked to just rotate the strike during the middle overs. Now, they may try to hit more boundaries. If they can hit a six or a four in an over and take singles or the remaining four or five balls, totals of 350 might still be achieved,” Vinay Kumar said.

These are some positive changes for cricket brought about by ICC to make the game more interesting and to give the bowlers some breathing space. This will force the batsman to think differently and revise their strategies.

Edited By : Akanksha Agarwal