Radical changes?! - not nearly so!!

ICC thinks that the ‘radical’ changes it has ushered in yesterday, into the one-day format, are going to revolutionize the game. Well maybe they might!

And while traditionalists have cried out against the ‘radical’ nature of these changes, I’d like to think that ICC have left this pie half-baked!

For one, I thought that field restrictions for 20 overs loads the dice in the favour of the batsmen!… and mind you… the dice is already quite loaded in that direction! Thats why I feel ICC should’ve introduced something that could’ve favoured bowlers!

But mind you… having two blocks of 5 overs of fielding restrictions can be used imaginatively by the fielding captain… using one block just before the ’slog’ overs start… to lure the well-set batsmen into throwing away their wickets by going for the ‘big’ shots!

Also, the football-style substitution rule is a good innovation, but has the potential of making the toss, the most important factor in the game!

Moreover, the timing of these changes leave me with mixed feelings too! These are supposed to be experimental changes which would be reviewed after a year or so. With less than two years to go for the World Cup, most teams would like to build their teams and strategies, starting now! In case these changes are rolled back due to any sort of reasons, then we may have a situation wherein teams have to hastily rework their plans and strategies with just about 6-7 months left for the World Cup!! On the positive side, for India (and maybe Sri Lanka too!), these rule changes have come at just the right time, with new coaches just settling into their jobs. This would make it easier for Chappell, Moody and company to factor these changes into their plans right from the very start! And on a side note, having a foreign coach (generally receptive to new changes) would help the Indian team take these changes in their stride. We have seen, in Indian hockey, what happens when ex-Indian players acting as coaches stick to ‘traditional’ mindsets instead of embracing new ideas and innovations!

I would’ve also loved to see more of football rules coming into the ODI game. The concept of ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ cards for on-field transgressions/infringements by the players should’ve been tried out too!

Last but not the least, ICC has conveniently ignored certain key aspects of the game like the ‘chucking’ laws, the role of match referees, etc. while trying to mend what ain’t broken!!