Azhar Ali plays Helmet Boy

Stage: England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Match, Day 2 at the Kennington Oval London

It was more than a little funny to see Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali holding No.11 Mohammad Asif’s helmet for more than a few overs – Azhar even ran holding onto Asif’s helmet. Have never seen that before… Here is a picture I clicked using my mobile camera…not the best you would get an idea …

Azhar Ali, standing at the non-striker end as Mohammad Asif faces Grame Swann

Australian Board Approves New One Day Cricket Format

Cricket Australia

With a view to refresh and rejuvenate One Day Cricket which has taken a backseat after the introduction of the shorter and zippier T20 cricket, Cricket Australia has approved a number of drastic changes to the format of One Day Cricket.

The changes were approved by the board despite stiff resistance from Rickey Ponting and other international players who didn’t approve of the experimentation in the run up to the World Cup next year in the Indian subcontinent which would be played in the traditional format.

However, Cricket Australia must be praised that it overlooked short term interests and took the long term view on the future of One Day Cricket. Almost every cricket follower can see that while T20 cricket is not threatening Test Cricket, it is definitely causing the interest in 50 over cricket to wither. So some revolutionary changes were called for, and that is what Cricket Australia is attempting.

Here are the major changes that the Aussie board has planned for, and which you can see in Australia’s domestic one day cricket tournaments this year:

1. Split Innings: Interestingly, one of the first (if not the first) persons to suggest that the innings should be split into 2 halves was Sachin Tendulkar. While the BCCI took no heed of his suggestion, Cricket Australia sure has. One Day Matches in Australia will no be 45 overs a side affair. Further, a team will bat 20 overs only at one go and after the other team bats its quota of 20 overs will the team batting first come back to bat out its remaining 25 overs.
2. 12 a Side: A team will consist of 12 players now. However only 11 players can bat or field.
3. 12 overs per Bowler: Even though the total number of overs per side has been reduced from 50 overs to 45, the maximum number of overs that a bowler can bowl has been increased from 10 to 12.
4. 2 Bouncers Per Over: A bowler is now allowed to bowl 2 bouncers per over.

The split innings will for one reduce the impact of the toss for sure. In day-night matches, teams batting first have an unfair advantage. Approximately 55% of the matches have so far been won by teams batting first. That means a win-loss difference of 10%. Surely it’s not fair that the coin should dictate so much.

The two changes in the bowling rules means that bowlers will get a bigger say in what has been stupidly touted as the batsmen’s game for years. One, the captain can now utilize his best bowlers more. Secondly, a bowler can now bowl two bouncers at the same batsmen in one over, unlike the previous rule which allowed one bouncer per batsman per over. Kudos to CA for giving more teeth to the poor bowlers.

I for one think these are very welcome new changes from Cricket Australia, and won’t be surprised if most of them are incorporated by the ICC for the World Cup 2015. Whether the man who originally suggested the main change would be around to check out the new format is not as a question as you might think though…

Saeed Ajmal Completes 1st Test 5 Wicket Haul

1st 5 wicket Innings Haul for the Pakistani Spinner

Saeed Ajmal’s intriguing doosras flummoxed one English batsmen after another, and in spite of a couple of dropped catches, Ajmal ensured that his 1st Test 5 wicket haul wasn’t missed when he took the responsibility on himself to dismiss the final man caught and bowled.

England folded for all of 251, but the problem is that Pakistan were dismissed for a mere 72 in their first essay. Only if the Pakistan team had a couple of guys who could bat, this could have been one helluva team. But alas…

Knowing the Pakistani batting, I, for one, would be really surprised if they manage to make England bat again.

* Pakistani fielders dropped as many as 7 catches in the innings!

Refreshing Indian Approach May Enliven Lanka Test

Sehwag: Another Blazing Innings

After the Sri Lankans did everything possible to ensure that the deciding 3rd Test would end up becoming a non-decider, it was most refreshing to see the Indian batsmen bat they way they did, and bring some life back into the Test.

That Sehwag is blazing away to another century is to be expected. But have a look at the strike rates of the other Indian batsmen today. Rahul Dravid scored just 23 but that score came off just 26 balls! Knowing Dravid, that was one helluva start. The newspapers had reported earlier that Dravid had been seen hitting out a lot during the pre-match practise sessions.

Sachin is giving Sehwag company with 40 off 66 balls. Not a blitzkrieg exactly, but a much quicker start than you would expect.

India is on 180/2 and is going at over 5 rpo. If they can force a result, either way, it would be thanks to this fresh, new approach. And thank god for that. And of course, Dhoni too!