Dwindling spectator interest, drastically falling television rating points, lack of interest for the same from an entire generation from up and coming cricketers and reduced advertising support had all but sounded the death knell of the oldest form of the glorious game of cricket i.e. test cricket; but the International Cricket Council's (ICC) recent announcement related to the introduction of day and night test cricket might just prove to be the shot in the arm that this form of the game was looking for........
Coloured balls, coloured clothing, coloured sight screens and the coloured ball clashing against the night sky might just not prove to be enough of a fillip to the age old test cricket and the ICC mandarins might do well to consider these amendments or improvements to the above mentioned form of the game other than the introduction of day and night test matches..........
The duration of a single day's cricket could be reduced to five hours instead of the present six, with the addition of half an hour to accomodate the slated overs for the day being incumbent upon the umpires; the first session could be of two hours duration, followed by a lunch break of half an hour........
The second session could be of ninety minutes duration, with the third session being a replica of the second as far as the slated time goes; the authorities could do away with the twenty minute drinks break and instead have a drinks break not exceeding five minutes after every hour of play; with an additional seven and a half minute break being thrown in between the second and third sessions.........
A ninety second time interval between the departure of one batsmen from the crease and the arrival of the next at the crease is all that will be allowed to batsmen and all team managers and coaches will have to ensure that a minimum of three batsmen are padded up and available to proceed to the playing arena at all times.......
Seventy five overs shall be the maximum number of overs slated in a single day and both the participating teams will have to guarantee that they stick to the stipulated rate of bowling fifteen overs per hour failing which they will be penalised with a penalty/fine of five runs per over for every over bowled short; the on field umpires will have the leeway to adjust a maximum of five overs per day, but the penalty shall be applicable from the sixth over bowled short..........
Deduction of match fees from both the players an team accounts hasn't proved to be enough of a deterrent and the teams still continue to play truant when it comes to over rates, but this run related penalty will surely hit them where it hurts the most and see a drastic improvement in over rates in the near future........
The thirty minutes of additional time is allotted to make up for rain delays if any and shall not be used to make up number of overs per day related deficiencies under any circumstances; and players shall strictly not be permitted to substitute themselves with another player from the team pool if they want to take recourse to a comfort break as they can do the same during the lunch or drinks breaks and substitutions if any shall only be permitted in the case of any instance of a debilitating injury on the field that inhibits the player in question from taking to the field of play........
Four day long test matches instead of the present five day long format might just prove to be another welcome measure to rekindle dwindling spectator interest with the duration of an innings being restricted to a maximum limit of ninety overs per team in the first innings and sixty overs per innings the second time around; this will also ensure that every test match ends up in a decisive result more often than not.......
While such well meaning measures and a lot more besides have been the subject matter of discussions and debates for a rather long time now, the authorities that be have only woken up to the stark reality of test cricket being on it's last legs only now; and while the advent of day and night test cricket might indeed prove to be the first decisive step in a journey of a million miles, the ICC will have to do a lot more besides to revive the dwindling fortunes of this most fascinating form of the game in the immediate future..........
Coloured balls, coloured clothing, coloured sight screens and the coloured ball clashing against the night sky might just not prove to be enough of a fillip to the age old test cricket and the ICC mandarins might do well to consider these amendments or improvements to the above mentioned form of the game other than the introduction of day and night test matches..........
The duration of a single day's cricket could be reduced to five hours instead of the present six, with the addition of half an hour to accomodate the slated overs for the day being incumbent upon the umpires; the first session could be of two hours duration, followed by a lunch break of half an hour........
The second session could be of ninety minutes duration, with the third session being a replica of the second as far as the slated time goes; the authorities could do away with the twenty minute drinks break and instead have a drinks break not exceeding five minutes after every hour of play; with an additional seven and a half minute break being thrown in between the second and third sessions.........
A ninety second time interval between the departure of one batsmen from the crease and the arrival of the next at the crease is all that will be allowed to batsmen and all team managers and coaches will have to ensure that a minimum of three batsmen are padded up and available to proceed to the playing arena at all times.......
Seventy five overs shall be the maximum number of overs slated in a single day and both the participating teams will have to guarantee that they stick to the stipulated rate of bowling fifteen overs per hour failing which they will be penalised with a penalty/fine of five runs per over for every over bowled short; the on field umpires will have the leeway to adjust a maximum of five overs per day, but the penalty shall be applicable from the sixth over bowled short..........
Deduction of match fees from both the players an team accounts hasn't proved to be enough of a deterrent and the teams still continue to play truant when it comes to over rates, but this run related penalty will surely hit them where it hurts the most and see a drastic improvement in over rates in the near future........
The thirty minutes of additional time is allotted to make up for rain delays if any and shall not be used to make up number of overs per day related deficiencies under any circumstances; and players shall strictly not be permitted to substitute themselves with another player from the team pool if they want to take recourse to a comfort break as they can do the same during the lunch or drinks breaks and substitutions if any shall only be permitted in the case of any instance of a debilitating injury on the field that inhibits the player in question from taking to the field of play........
Four day long test matches instead of the present five day long format might just prove to be another welcome measure to rekindle dwindling spectator interest with the duration of an innings being restricted to a maximum limit of ninety overs per team in the first innings and sixty overs per innings the second time around; this will also ensure that every test match ends up in a decisive result more often than not.......
While such well meaning measures and a lot more besides have been the subject matter of discussions and debates for a rather long time now, the authorities that be have only woken up to the stark reality of test cricket being on it's last legs only now; and while the advent of day and night test cricket might indeed prove to be the first decisive step in a journey of a million miles, the ICC will have to do a lot more besides to revive the dwindling fortunes of this most fascinating form of the game in the immediate future..........
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