Eclipse
International Debutant
Gavaskar urges Australia to take lead in improving cricket
By Lyall Johnson
December 2, 2003
Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, the game's greatest Test century-scorer, has suggested Australia should lead the way in seeking changes to the rules of cricket to make the game more interesting for spectators and fairer for batsmen.
Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club lunch yesterday, Gavaskar said Australia had always been at the forefront of innovations to the game, such as coloured outfits and fielding restrictions during limited-overs matches, and he listed further innovations he believes would be beneficial to the game.
Gavaskar said cricket must evolve into a more interesting and exciting game in order to ensure its survival internationally as it comes under more pressure from other sports.
"The cricketing world looks to Australia to lead the way in giving world cricket innovations that make the game more attractive," Gavaskar said.
"There is plenty of competition for cricket - not so much in India, perhaps, but in the rest of the world - from other sports and therefore it is most important that the game becomes more attractive and that we have more and more younger players coming in to play the game.
"If left to me, I would look at a few changes in world cricket, starting with wides for example. I think wides on the off side should pretty much be the same as the wides that are called in limited-overs cricket.
"It is very important because you tend to overlook the fact that if wides down the leg side can be a negative practice, then wides on the off side also can be negative and can be pretty boring for the spectators."
Gavaskar, who scored 34 Test centuries at an average of 51.12, also called for a revision of the front-foot no-ball rule. He believes the umpire is not in the best position to make a judgement on where the front foot has landed and that the batsman does not have enough time to adjust his shot to take advantage of the call.
But Gavaskar's most radical suggestion was to allow captains to choose when they employ fielding restrictions, thus making the one-day game more tactical.
At present, only two players are allowed out of the circle during the first 15 overs. Gavaskar's idea is that the fielding captains would be able to back their bowlers and nominate when the restrictions apply.
Some, in the hope their bowlers got wickets early, might opt for restrictions to come into force late in the game - a tactic that could backfire if wickets don't fall early.
Gavaskar also praised Steve Waugh, saying the Australian Test skipper had made a "very tough decision" but would leave the game in style because he had chosen his own time to go.
"I'd like to wish Steve, who has been a tremendous player for Australia, happiness in his retirement and I hope that he can continue on the great work he has been doing," Gavaskar said. "He has been doing some wonderful charity work in India."
What do you guys think about some of his suggestions??
I am interested in the feilding restriction rule but I am not sure how it would work.
By Lyall Johnson
December 2, 2003
Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, the game's greatest Test century-scorer, has suggested Australia should lead the way in seeking changes to the rules of cricket to make the game more interesting for spectators and fairer for batsmen.
Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club lunch yesterday, Gavaskar said Australia had always been at the forefront of innovations to the game, such as coloured outfits and fielding restrictions during limited-overs matches, and he listed further innovations he believes would be beneficial to the game.
Gavaskar said cricket must evolve into a more interesting and exciting game in order to ensure its survival internationally as it comes under more pressure from other sports.
"The cricketing world looks to Australia to lead the way in giving world cricket innovations that make the game more attractive," Gavaskar said.
"There is plenty of competition for cricket - not so much in India, perhaps, but in the rest of the world - from other sports and therefore it is most important that the game becomes more attractive and that we have more and more younger players coming in to play the game.
"If left to me, I would look at a few changes in world cricket, starting with wides for example. I think wides on the off side should pretty much be the same as the wides that are called in limited-overs cricket.
"It is very important because you tend to overlook the fact that if wides down the leg side can be a negative practice, then wides on the off side also can be negative and can be pretty boring for the spectators."
Gavaskar, who scored 34 Test centuries at an average of 51.12, also called for a revision of the front-foot no-ball rule. He believes the umpire is not in the best position to make a judgement on where the front foot has landed and that the batsman does not have enough time to adjust his shot to take advantage of the call.
But Gavaskar's most radical suggestion was to allow captains to choose when they employ fielding restrictions, thus making the one-day game more tactical.
At present, only two players are allowed out of the circle during the first 15 overs. Gavaskar's idea is that the fielding captains would be able to back their bowlers and nominate when the restrictions apply.
Some, in the hope their bowlers got wickets early, might opt for restrictions to come into force late in the game - a tactic that could backfire if wickets don't fall early.
Gavaskar also praised Steve Waugh, saying the Australian Test skipper had made a "very tough decision" but would leave the game in style because he had chosen his own time to go.
"I'd like to wish Steve, who has been a tremendous player for Australia, happiness in his retirement and I hope that he can continue on the great work he has been doing," Gavaskar said. "He has been doing some wonderful charity work in India."
What do you guys think about some of his suggestions??
I am interested in the feilding restriction rule but I am not sure how it would work.
