What can be done to restore the balance between bat and ball in cricket ?

Cricket is a game which demands a fair balance between the bat and the ball. This is something fans constantly ask for. However, the question arises; was there a fair balance between the two primal elements of the game at any point of time?

One aspect has most probably always dominated the other, kind of analogous to our lives. If in early times, uncovered wickets, no protection for the batsmen made the life of a batsman a nightmare, while the growing size of the bats, the introduction of skewed rules which left bowlers toothless, and the reduction in the size of boundaries has helped the unfair contest between the bat and ball to continue in an opposite way.

It appears that we seem to have hit rock bottom in limited overs cricket. It looks like white-ball cricket is a contest between bat and bat, rather than an absorbing battle between bat and ball. In both 50-over and T20 cricket, both teams regularly pile a mountain of runs

Flat tracks, fickle no-ball rules and due to so many other debatable regulations have left Cricket to not be the same the spectacle it once was. The sport that once revolved around wit, artistry, finesse and an occasional display of muscle power has transcended into a battle of batting strength more than anything else.

Here is a look at what ICC and other governing bodies can do to restore the balance and make the game a fair one again.

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#3 Abolish the Free-Hit rule

Should the "Free-hit rule be abolished ?

As we know a batsman receives a free-hit either when a bowler bowls a no-ball by overstepping the popping-crease or a full toss above waist height of a batsman. In either scenario, a batsman cannot be dismissed the following ball except for a run-out which gives him the license to have a free swing of the willow.

The only question to ask is ‘what has the batsman done to get a free hit if a bowler bowls a no-ball?’ The truth is, he has not done anything to earn it.

If the bowler is already being penalized by having to bowl an extra delivery and a run is given to the batting side, then why is the bowler given and additional penalty and the batsman allowed a wild slog of the bat ?

Nor does this sound rational neither is there any logical explanation to justify the introduction of such an unfair rule.

Yes, it adds entertainment to the game, but, to do so at the mercy of bowlers is not right. This is a major factor disrupting the balance between bat and the ball,

Hence, the game would be better off without the ‘Free-Hit’ rule. If might not achieve much but it will be a baby step towards making the lives of bowlers easier.

#2 Leg-side wide rule

What are your thoughts on the leg side wide rule

In limited overs cricket, if a ball delivered even marginally down the leg-side, it is called as a wide-ball, unlike in Test cricket where the rules are far more balanced.

Just as we have a guiding line on the off-side, there is a need for something similar for the leg side too. Possibly at a half distance as compared to the one on the off-side.

With current rule for the leg-side wide, there is absolutely no margin of error for bowlers and it is extremely harsh on them. However, if we introduce a more lenient ruling on the leg side; where the bowlers can bowl without being called a wide, it will give them a sense of relief and allow them to take more risks.

As for the obvious concerns of bowling negative line, the margins of tolerable deliveries down the leg side would anyways be restricted and not like Test cricket or on off-sides, where there are sizeable margins on offer.

As a result, it will not give bowlers the liberty to bowl negative lines to squeeze the run scoring of the batsman. In fact, this move would require a batsman to agriculture a potential new shot and bring more innovation and competition to the game.

Last but not least, it will prevent the bowlers from facing the brunt of bowling an extra delivery just because a certain ball just marginally slide down the leg side.

#1 Increase the size of boundaries

Eden Park is one of the smallest stadiums in the world

Until not so long back, we would watch on television and wonder how the batsmen in the middle would run five runs? Yes, it may sound hilarious to those who started watching in the late 2000s, but there were times in the past where we came across a lot of relay throws and enormously massive stadiums in Australia like the MCG were witness to such a phenomenon.

But, times have changed and so has the game too, in fact, a lot. Now, even before the blink of an eye, balls cross over the boundary line. Quite clearly, one of the primitive and biggest reasons behind the bat rather dominating the ball is the narrowing size of the grounds or shortening of boundaries.

These days, with many stadiums co-hosting a bunch of different sports at different times of the year, we came across scenarios in abundance where the boundaries are as short as 50 to 55 meters like the Eden Park in Auckland. Moreover, with many organizers believing in the idea that raining sixes and high scoring matches being better to promote and advertise the game, the boundary ropes are pulled inwards, thereby further making things tough for bowlers.

This has become becomes a dream situation for batsmen as big bats, fast outfields and extremely short boundaries lead to batsmen scoring plethora of runs without having to work hard for them.

As a result, with the growing popularity of T20s and the game spreading to various different shores, it is high time for the lawmakers to put some rules into effect pertaining to the size of the boundaries to restore balance.

Now, we stand on a crossroad and must decide on what do we expect from our beloved sport. Do we really care about the game and one of its essential commodities or do we wish to just brand the sport as entertainment package and allow the rift between the bat and the ball.