The rise of several T20 tournaments coupled with several other factors has resulted in the declining popularity of the longer formats especially ODIs.Audiences for one day cricket slumped by 17 per cent during 2009-10.A match between Australia and the West Indies in 2010 returned the lowest audience seen for a day-night game in 5 years, with an audience of just 625,000
In the past five years, audiences for the one-day games have been in a slow downward spiral, losing between 5 and 6 per cent each year from an average of 1.18 million in 2005,
There is a plenty of evidence which highlight the fact that ODIs have lost a good number of viewers/spectators
Probably these are some reasons which prompted the ICC to make a few changes in the ODI format. ICC's new ODI rules came into effect from October 1, 2011, . Here's a crisp segmentation of the set of new rules: what each rule actually means, ICC’s intention behind these rules , and how these rules are likely to affect ODI cricket
RULE 1. Two new white balls to be used for each innings , instead of one.
In Detail: Two white cricket balls will be used from the start of each innings, bowled from either ends.
ICC’s objective behind this rule- It has been very frequently noticed that the white ball accumulates a plenty of wear and tear by the 35th over of the match and it becomes difficult for the batsmen to spot the ball..Hence the umpires go for a change of the ball in the 34th over.The ball which is handed to the bowler after the 34th over is not a new one and in the process of changing the ball we lose a few valuable minutes.To remove this mandatory ball change drama in 34th the new rule was made.
Its Effect- Pace bowlers who love bowling with the new ball will relish this, since the ball will remain new till the 20-22nd over of the innings. The rule is not expected to help the spinners one bit.Spinners prefer bowling with a relatively old ball i.e. by the 17th -18th . to bowl with a older ball they have to wait till the 35th over of the match.On another note the rule will help a lot in negating the dew factor , since both the balls will be exposed to the dew/grass ,alternatively and it will be relatively easier for the bowler to grip the ball even if there is a good amount of dew on the ground. In my opinion the rule has both pros and cons ..On seaming and bouncy tracks pacers will get huge advantage and batsmen will have a really torrid time.The new rule wont embolden spinners.Role of spinners in the format will be reduced.The day is not far when fast bowlers will start becoming magisterial in the ODIs.
2. The batsman is out if he is found guilty of 'obstructing the field'.
In detail: -on appeal from the fielding team, if the umpire feels that a batsman, whilst running between the wickets, has significantly changed his direction without probable cause thereby obstructing a fielder's attempt to run him out, the batsman should be given out obstructing the field. It shall not be relevant whether a run-out would have been affected or not.
ICC’s objective behind this rule-Its an attempt to encourage honesty,fair play and sportsmanship .There have been a plenty of occasions when a batsman has diverged from his path at the last instance, away from their natural running path, to eliminate the fielder’s direct line of vision to the stumps
Effect- Batsmen will come in the path of the ball while taking a run at their peril. Hence we might see a slight higher number of run outs.In my opinion whether a batsman shall be adjudged out for obstructing the field or not will have a lot to do with the way of thinking of the umpire.At times it might get difficult to interpret whether the batsman changed his course intentionally or not. What if a bowler/his partner comes in his way or a fielder charging towards the stumps makes him change course just before the crease? The day an umpire rules a high profile batsman out through this method, a controversy is on the cards.
3. Its mandatory to take the second and the third powerplays between the overs 16-40.
In Detail: The total number of powerplay overs still remains as 20 per innings. The first ten overs still remain as the – M andatory powerplay.There shall be two other powerplays- bowling and batting powerplays, 5 overs each But both the powerplays have to be taken between the 16th and the 35th over. This restriction will not apply for reduced innings of scheduled duration of less than 40 overs.
ICC’s objective behind this rule –Make the game more I teresting.They probably felt the overs from 16th to 40th had become a tad monotonous.
Effect- The rule will help the batting side more than the bowling. If the batting side doesn’t lose too many wickets in the batting powerplay , then the powerplay will help them to gain some serious momentum and they can go for the kill in the death overs.But the thing is teams should learn not to lose too many wickets in the powerplays…From another angle, If the batting side gets off to a flyer then the opposition captain can spread the field after the 11th over and check the flow of runs……But this rule is expected to spice up the game..If powerplays are well utillsed totals over 300,350 will become very common. Beause if teams manage to keep wickets by the 40th over, having batted out 20 powerplay overs, they can throw their bats at everything in the last 10 overs. However it might backfire if the team loses a good number of wickets in the powerplays…..I personally like this bit of experimentation .Earlier powerplays means the middle overs will not be as dull as they used to be.
4. Batsman cant ask for a runner!
In Detail: The batsman shall not be permitted to have a runner even if he is injured etc.He has to run on his own till the time he is on the crease.
ICC’s objective behind this rule –: There have been instances when a batsman has asked for a runner even if he was fully fit and fine. At times this ploy is used to save the energy of the batsman which enables them to play a longer innings.
Effects:Expect some drama in the next few months over this issue..If a batsman gets a severe strain/cramp when he is in the nineties he might have to return back to the pavillion. I can see a huge uproar if Sachin or any other great player misses out on a century cause of this. Teams will start giving fitness more priority. Half fit / partially fit players wont dare to play a match since they wont be allowed to have a runner. I like this rule.It will promote honesty.Cricket boards will realise the need to have a strong injury management system.
5. Bowler can run out a non striker for too much backing up.
In Detail: ” The bowler is permitted to attempt to run-out the non-striker, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing,. “
ICC’s objective behind this rule –:To discourage non strikers from backing off too far.There have been occasions when non strikers back off too far even before the ball is delivered , at times the non strikers do it intentionally to disturb the concentration of the bowler which is totally unfair.
Effect: Non strikers will think twice before backing off far.Batsmen will take time to get used to this while they stand in the non strikers end - tail enders being the most vulnerable lot. There could be a short period when too many batsmen are getting run out through this method, which won't do good for the game temporarily. However if a main batsman gets run out in this process it may create controversies.
6. Extension of play by 15 minutes into Lunch or Tea intervals.(in test matches )
In Detail: The match officials on the field i.e. the umpires have been empowered to decide and extend the play by 15 minutes (a minimum of four overs) extra time at the scheduled lunch or tea interval of any day if requested by either captain if, in the umpires' opinion, it would bring about a definite result in that session.
ICC’s objective behind this rule: To save precious .time It has been noticed that inevitable results get delayed because ot lunch/tea breaks. In such cases the breaks are pretty pointless..
Effect:This rule will be pretty effective in saving time. For e.g if the match gets extended by 4 overs before lunch and the batting team gets all out in those overs , the crowd can return home earlier than they otherwise would have. But it is expected to create controversies …if a match is heading towards a nail biting finish with one team slightly ahead of the other , and it starts drizzling or becomes a bit too dark.In that case one captain may want to continue and other may not want to. For such situations it will be a subjective call to be taken by the umpire.And its all ways important to avoid such subjective calls in a game. However in my opinion it will be a pretty spectator friendly and player friendly rule if the umpire makes the right and fair call.
With the slack in the TRPs of ODI in the last few years ,ICC has done a fair job by making these new playing conditions.Still a lot needs to be done to make this game even more exciting and ensure that future of the game is safe.
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