The game's new conscience

[Richard]

Fairest solution: I should be allowed to take a shovel to the pitch whenever I decide its too batsman friendly. In any case..hampering the spinners is not the solution. Larger fields, plus more sporting pitches should start to swing the equation back around IMO, and nothing more is really needed.

I don't think greener pitches are as neccessary as some balls that swing more.

Yes, we do need more spin-friendly wickets (and bigger boundaries where applicable), especially in India.

 

[GIMH]

It'd be nice, but I don't really see that we have any technology to be 100% sure. Still, it's something I think should be on te to-do list.




Yes. Not just too many, but at the wrong time. The Ashes Tests were the most important part of England's tour to Australia, so they should have been played last. A triangular ODI series after a Test series is just wrong.





Agree, I suppose this ties in to what I was saying above. ODI and Twenty20 matches should be used as a warm up for the Tests. I hope this suggestion isn't implying the end of FC matches between the tourists and county/state teams though.




Scrap the Super 8's and I'd be happy. A group stage, then knockout quarter finals, semi-finals and the final is my ideal format.




I don't really mind either way.



Agree. What's wrong with a few cracks in the pitch.

Pretty much agree with every word. I've always resented the ODIs coming after the Tests, it's like after the Lord Mayor's show.

Though in the English summer I would like a small triangular series in between the two test series

 

[Burgey]

I don't think greener pitches are as neccessary as some balls that swing more.

Yes, we do need more spin-friendly wickets (and bigger boundaries where applicable), especially in India.

And bigger boundaries in England too, so you can't mis-hit sixes that would be caught 20 metres inside the boundary of a decent sized international ground. That's one thing which really annoys me - seeing a mi**** shot these days go for six 2 metres over the head of a fielder on the fence when playing on a postage stamp.

 

[Perm]

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/296543.html

Some new procedures and rules have been implemented.

 

[Richard]

And bigger boundaries in England too, so you can't mis-hit sixes that would be caught 20 metres inside the boundary of a decent sized international ground. That's one thing which really annoys me - seeing a mi**** shot these days go for six 2 metres over the head of a fielder on the fence when playing on a postage stamp.

I'm always in favour of having as big a boundary as it's safe to have. Some grounds over here (Taunton...) are simply too small for the good of the game, but on the decent-size ones I hate seeing ropes in any more than a metre at very most.

 

[Richard]

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/296543.html

Some new procedures and rules have been implemented.

Jaysus, I hope this batting-side-choosing-a-Powerplay falls flat.

 

[Perm]

Jaysus, I hope this batting-side-choosing-a-Powerplay falls flat.

Same here, I've never been a fan of that suggestion.

 

[Isura]

The only way spinners will be disadvantaged is if there are fewer turning pitches. And yes, I actually would like to see a few more turning pitches than we currently do. But that's a separate issue to the fact that I'd like to see more swing from balls.

Agreed. Also, spinners actually prefer a slightly newer ball, about 15-30 overs old. It is easier to spin a newer ball imo. So a more durable ball would do good to all bowlers.

 

[Isura]

Yes. Not just too many, but at the wrong time. The Ashes Tests were the most important part of England's tour to Australia, so they should have been played last. A triangular ODI series after a Test series is just wrong.

The counter argument is that ODI's are very physically demanding. You don't want to see the top players going into a test series with random injuries developed over an ODI series.

Agree, I suppose this ties in to what I was saying above. ODI and Twenty20 matches should be used as a warm up for the Tests. I hope this suggestion isn't implying the end of FC matches between the tourists and county/state teams though.

ODI's are hardly a proper warmup for test cricket. Especially when many teams play specialists for OD cricket. The solution IMO is to have less ODIs (3 or 5 match series'), and scrap 20/20 crap from tours. Play more FC warm-up matches.

Scrap the Super 8's and I'd be happy. A group stage, then knockout quarter finals, semi-finals and the final is my ideal format.

Agreed. Who really cares about producing the 'best' team every WC. Excitement and a reasonably fair format is fine, just like in soccer.

 

[Mister Wright]

Same here, I've never been a fan of that suggestion.

Disagree. I like the idea.

As far as tour schedules should go. I like the idea of starting a tour with a 20-20 game, and then having 3, 5 or 7 ODis followed by a 2, 3 or 5 test series (depending on the teams playing). Think it would be a good idea.

 

[LA ICE-E]

1. Bowling actions should be monitored in matches, not just in science labs.
eh
2. There are too many international matches, especially one-dayers.
for the elite teams true, and needs to go down
3. There should be a standard format for international tours - a Twenty20 "competition" (a rare moment of vagueness), three one-dayers and a Test series of three to five matches.
agree
4. The World Cup should last no longer than a month, with fewer teams and "fewer one-sided matches".
should not last more than a month, yeah something around a month would be good. But wrong on there being fewer teams, just needs to come up with a format for that no need to cut down on teams
5. Boundaries should go out again, to within two metres of the perimeter fence.
yes
6. Groundsmen should stop using glue to hold pitches together.
eh
7.powerplay option to the batting captain.
Very bad idea, takes the strategy out of the fielding team and is a further blow to the bowlers.
8. free hit rule.
are you kidding me? it's supposed to be an even battle between the bat and the ball but right now it's very much favoring the batsmen. ODI and twenty20 needs to be differentiated between each other not made the same with only the difference of overs.
9.There should be a mandatory change of ball after 35 overs
another blow for the bowler and takes out reverse swing from ODIs.
10. Delay player referrals to TV umpire.
yeah should be tested more
11. Zimbabwe plays in the intercontinental cup
good idea, helps both the associates and Zimbabwe, but either the top 2 or 3 HPP associates should get a raise or Zimbabwe funding is handled the same way as the associates because the Zimbabwean board is just waisting money.

 

[Manee]

7.powerplay option to the batting captain.

What a load.

Giving the powerplay rule to the fielding side really adds some strategy to the game and if it was given to the batsman they'd just score up to a 100 in the last 10 overs, almost negating any sort of hope to salvage the bowler's morale in what might have been a good spell until those last 10.

I am quite a big fan of how the powerplay is now, teams hold it until a partnership is broken and if it is not then they have to pay the price. It adds a forth dimension to the game of batting, bowling and fielding.

If they gave it to the batting team, 9 times out of 10 it would be taken in the last 10, gets a bit repetitive.

 

[Richard]

8. free hit rule.
are you kidding me? it's supposed to be an even battle between the bat and the ball but right now it's very much favoring the batsmen. ODI and twenty20 needs to be differentiated between each other not made the same with only the difference of overs.

The free-hit rule is actually an incentive to bowlers. If it were to be introduced into international cricket, it might just see bowlers - and especially spinners - stop the stupidity of bowling no-balls. Which would be a good thing for them, as even without free-hits, no-balls in limited-overs cricket can be hugely costly.

 

[Perm]

The free-hit rule is actually an incentive to bowlers. If it were to be introduced into international cricket, it might just see bowlers - and especially spinners - stop the stupidity of bowling no-balls. Which would be a good thing for them, as even without free-hits, no-balls in limited-overs cricket can be hugely costly.

Fair point. I find it ridiculous how some spinners manage to bowl no-balls and I have seen Vettori, Patel and Gayle all bowl a few in my time of watching cricket. I can understand fast bowlers doing it, even if I dislike it, but for spinners it is truly unacceptable.