New Cricket

According to the decision-makers, these innovations will make the game more action oriented, tactically challenging, competitive, and the added rider: 8216;8216;Without that moral ambiguity of the Gentlemen8217;s Era8217;8217;. Emphasising the last point with: Running for overthrows when the ball deviates after hitting the batsman8217;s body or bat won8217;t depend on the batsman8217;s idea of sportsmanship, but be lawfully disallowed.

Scanning through the innovations which might eventually find their way to the rule books:

DOUBLE PLAY
The innovation: Two batsman can be dismissed off a single ball. Here8217;s how: Bowler appeals for LBW. Batsmen attempt a run as the umpire ponders. The appeal is upheld, and at the same time a fielder runs the non-striker out. Result: Two batsmen walk out and two others walk in. One possible question: Which of the two new batsmen will take strike. Contentious.

The present rule: Ball is considered dead as soon as the batsman is dismissed. Subsequent happening null and void.

Possible scenario: A baseball-inspired rule where the batsmen will have to always be on their toes. This would mean the batting team with eight batsmen down cannot breathe easily even if there just one ball to go. And of course there8217;s the bizzare possibility where a team could be dismissed in less than an over.

Expert opinion:
Ex India captain Bishan Bedi
It will only add to the already existing spate of confusion in the game. In such a situation, a match could be over in five deliveries. The ICC cricket committee must be joking! It looks more foolish than innovative.

12-MAN TEAM
The innovation: A team will consist of 12 members with different batting and bowling elevens. This is one-day specific.

The present rule: The 12th man is nothing more than a water-boy who at times gets to act as a fielder.

Possible scenario: Logic behind this is to have the best men on field all the time. This would mean an end to part time bowlers or fringe all-rounders and an age of specialists, long batting line-ups and tall scores. Ganguly can work his seven batsman theory without compromising on the bowling. Lengthy pre-match meeting between captain and coach to make strategic decisions.

Expert opinion:
Anshuman Gaekwad, former India coach and player
This would add to the decline of all-rounders. Fitness standards would fall since batsmen will have the option of not fielding. The concept of a complete cricketer would be obsolete. Players will be less imaginative; a specialist batsman will never try to explore his latent bowling talents. Cricket can do without this change.

UNRESTRICTED FIELD RESTRICTIONS
The innovation: Another ODI specific change. The batsmen will have the liberty of dictating the opposition as to when they want the fielding restrictions to be in place. These need not be in 15 successive overs.

The present rule: Not more than two fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the first 15 overs, and two fielders in 8216;catching positions8217;.

Possible scenario: Another strategy-heavy innovation with a potential to complicate the game and make it time-consuming. Debates within the batting side whether the advantage should be used early when the bowlers are fresh and the ball is new, or in the dead, when bowlers are tired and the ball is old. Should India use it to help Tendulkar and Sehwag or use it to facilitate the less-flamboyant batsmen.

Expert opinion:
Bishan Bedi
It8217;s most ridiculous. One-day cricket is already totally dominated by batsmen. The new rules could totally destroy the confidence of bowlers, who as it is, are struggling in the shorter version. Since the ICC cricket committee consists of mostly batsmen, it inclines to favour batsmen, I presume.

OVERTHROWS
The innovation: Overthrows as a result of the ball rebounding from a batsman8217;s body or bat to be scrapped while extra runs arising out of the ball hitting the stumps be allowed.

The present rule: Overthrows of all sort allowed. Keep running till the ball is dead.

Possible scenario: Wouldn8217;t have a major impact, only remove the current ambiguity.

Expert opinion:
Vijay Chopra international umpire
But what if the ball strikes the stumps after hitting the batsman8217;s bat? Will the batsman then be declared out?. It doesn8217;t make sense. It doesn8217;t seem practical.

Not just the players even the umpires are feeling the winds of change. The ICC Champions Trophy in September will see umpires with earpieces connected to stump microphones giving them a better idea about snicks.

Chopra endorses this change. 8220;Because the game does not have to be stopped while the umpire gives his decision in contrast to the appeal being referred to the Third Umpire.8221;

Also, Sourav Ganguly8217;s two-tier Test theory too seems to have found favour with the ICC.

There seems to be consensus among the experts about these changes being needless and the whole exercise an unnecessary effort to fix something that isn8217;t broken. Or overcomplicating a simple game which has already been unnecessarily tampered with.

But then that8217;s what they said about Kerry Packer!