ICC : New Rules Recommended

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ICC cricket committee at the Lords Cricket Ground [Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

The two day ICC cricket committee meeting in London ended on Wednesday and some important points were discussed , and some recommendations were made as well to enhance the quality of world cricket. The committee is chaired by Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain and twice an ICC Cricket World Cup winner. It also includes ex-Australia captain Mark Taylor, former India coach Gary Kirsten, former India captain Ravi Shastri, ex-West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop and Clare Connor, the former captain of the England women’s team. As such any recommendations made by this esteemed committee do not come into practice, until approved by the Board and the Chief Executives Committee of ICC, when they meet from 26th-30th June in Hong Kong.

This committee made some new recommendations, and here are the following:

1. The committee unanimously recommended the use of UDRS in all test matches. It was also recommended that the use should be there in ODIs and T20s too, after a successful World Cup campaign.

ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Clive Lloyd said:

The committee’s recommendation that the DRS should be used in all formats of the game confirms two key conclusions that came from our discussions: it shows the group’s confidence in the system and it also highlights the committee’s view that it does aid the umpires in making correct decisions.

I think this is a good move, and I don’t think the Board will have any problem implementing this recommendation, but some problems do need to be sorted out, like some boards’ objection to the rule, and some other flaws like the 2.5 mtrs. This technology is here to stay, and people may argue that it takes away from the umpire’s role, but it will give correct decisions in the end, and that will be a fact, if some of the flaws get sorted out.

2. The committe has also recommended that Day-Night Test match cricket should be played with pink balls, which has already been trialled in Abu Dhabi. The ICC is going to conduct trials in The Intercontinental Cup , where it will take the decision whether this is feasible or not.

According to me, if the pink ball and the format doesn’t take away anything from cricket, it should be undertaken. It will add a new dimension to cricket, new skills will have to acquired, and players will be tested. This will also help increase viewer-ship, atleast in India.

3. The following recommendations have been made for enhancing ODI cricket :

a) Two balls should be used in each innings, one from each end; (currently only one ball is being used and replaced by a replacement ball after 34 overs); and

b) Teams should only be allowed to take the batting and bowling power play between overs 16 – 40;

c) Removal of the restriction on the maximum number of overs each bowler could deliver;

d) no compulsory close-catchers;

e) a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard fielding circle during non-powerplay overs; and

f) the number of bouncers that can be delivered per over to be increased from one to two.

I feel these recommendations have been made to improve the balance between batting and bowling. The second point will surely make the middle overs more interesting. The third point seems weird to me. The rule about the bouncers is good, and will add a new dimension to bowling. The 4th and the 5th point aims at striking a good balance between all aspects of cricket.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said:

Notwithstanding the strong success of 50-over cricket at the recent ICC Cricket World Cup, I am delighted that the ICC Cricket Committee has been creative in seeking to enhance the format to ensure its continued future.

4. One more recommendation is against time wasting. The committe suggests captains should be suspended for a match in case of a slow bowling rate, and also action should be taken against time wasting by the batting team.

A good one, especially to make the game move faster without any hindrances.

5. The committee has also recommended that

a) runners not be allowed in international cricket;

I do not agree in cases of players getting injured on field, and when there is no prior injury.

b) the practice of a batsman intentionally changing his direction whilst running between the wickets with a view to blocking a run-out chance was contrary to the Laws (37.1) and that the batsman would be given out on appeal from the fielding side;

This is a good one, and should be implemented for obvious reasons.

c) the MCC amend law 42.15 to allow the bowler to run out the non-striker before releasing the ball provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing.

This one is interesting, and I would love to find out what the Boards have to say on this.

So, with all these recommendations, the committee is trying to enhance the spectator experience of ODI cricket and cricket in general, and not let T20 cricket take over all other forms of the game. Adding new dimensions and rules to a game should be done with care as to not hamper the integrity of the game. I hope ICC keeps this in mind, when they meet next in Hong Kong.