Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Revolution afoot for domestic cricket.

With the ECB announcing several important changes to the domestic game, it is fair to say that the next instalment of county cricket will have a radical edge to it, but are these changes likely to enhance the quality of the game?

Perhaps the most significant of all the new rules was the decision to increase the number of points awarded for a draw in the County Championship from three to five.

Whilst this may seem to be a small alteration, the allocation of five points for a draw is the largest accolade for this kind of result for some time, with four points previously awarded in 2009.

The fluctuation in these rules calls into question as to why the ECB feel the need to change their decisions so often.

The importance of a two point increase may seem to be minute difference, but tell that to Warwickshire who would have finished level on 188.0 points with Sussex in last seasons County Championship had this ruling been in place.

Straight away we can start to see how these apparently small changes can make a big difference.

In addition, the ECB have also announced that the use of the heavy roller may be permitted in all forms of the game, but this decision rests solely with the home team, who will be able to decide when they wish to use it.

The immediate advantage of this decision is that the home team will have an ace up their sleeve.

If bowlers are playing on a featherbed of a wicket the heavy roller will flatten out the pitch, providing pace bowlers with extra bounce.

Whilst the true difference of this change will remain to be observed, once again it is a decision that, a short while ago had a much more different approach.

Cast your mind back to 2010 when the use of the heavy roller was banned after a match had started, a decision which the ECB claimed would: "maintain and promote the preparation of good cricket pitches."

The common cliche in this instance would be to observe that this rule would be the same for all counties and provide no real advantage to any one team, but sheer reasoning will inform even the amateur spectator that certain teams are likely to benefit more from this and, likewise, the teams which favour spin bowling will see less benefit.

For those of you who thought the white creases were boring and unimaginative, you will be pleased to hear that alternative colours will be permitted, a decision which seems to have stemmed from the colourful features of the Australian Big Bash, such as flashing bails.

As the commercialisation of, well, everything seems to be taking place, the ECB has also made alterations to the one-day game which prove to distance red and white ball cricket.

ODI regulations will be replicated on the county scene in the Royal London One-Day cup, with new balls being used at both ends and twenty20 matches will now be decided by a super over 

All of these changes, whilst harmless, seem to have motives beyond the benefit of the game. 

Fans want to see results and, although in hindsight you would prefer a tie, if you lose that is, the ECB's logic in this instance is reflective of the paying customer, who would rather see their team lose, than not get the chance to win.

The likelihood of games finishing as a tie is small, but it has happened before, i.e the Roses clash in Yorkshire last season, but these changes will be less likely to impact one-day cricket than the changes to the longer form of the game.

The practice of breaking the stumps at the bowlers end, commonly referred to as 'Finning', will now be punished with a no-ball, as apposed to a dead ball - And why not?

Even on the village green cricketers are able to avoid touching the stumps when they bowl and there is no reason as to why bowlers should feel the need to be so close to the stumps.

The harsh truth of this decision is, do what 99% of bowlers do and you wont be punished - Sounds fair.

The final leap into the future of county cricket involves an enhanced role for TV Umpires, who will be called into the frame to review No-Balls in the case of a dismissal.

Much like the previous decision, this has a strong case for being introduced. Previously unseen or unfair decision can now be reviewed from the on-field umpire from the bowlers end and, if justice is done, how can this be detrimental to the game?

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