Early indication (SA, India & UAE) in one day cricket seems to suggest that with 2 new balls working in tandem has bought the scores down and resulting in more competitive one day cricket. Could something like this work in test where you start an inning with 2 new balls all the way up to 80 overs as per the norm and then the skipper can decide if he wants both new balls changed or just the one and keep the old ball on the other end. For example after 80 overs Jimmy Anderson has a new ball while Graeme Swann on the other end has an old 40 overs old turning ball or even a ball that Bresnan may be reversing?
It may work well in the sub cont, West Indies and UAE but will it favour the bowling too much in England, SA and NZ? It is too much of an batsman game afterall and I know there was drama in Mumbai on day 5 but that was more due to West Indies losing the plot and the Indian batsman attacking to try and win 3-0 but overall that was one bore of a test.
Would 2 new balls in Tests work?
posted on 30/11/11
To try and even out the game as they were on uncovered wickets with no helmets then so they changed it to help batsmen, now we have the helmets and the flat tracks, so this would even it out again. To me the game of cricket is split between pre helmets and the use of them now, players for me can't be compared when one used a helmet and one didn;t, different game altogether, but with the LBW law change we can even things out again.
posted on 30/11/11
We would have so many more LBW decisions resulting in more wickets, better games with more results. i can't see what else can be done as wickets won't change one bit.
posted on 30/11/11
it would certainly make that umpires job easier!
but actually, i agree with the not out if it pitched outside leg thing. it stops bowlers unfairly targeting the legs from a difficult angle for the batsman to defend, which would create very negative cricket.
posted on 30/11/11
Thanks Googly! I agree with Jezzer, scrap the LBW rule but keep the outside leg rule.
posted on 30/11/11
Well sadly i can't see them doing this anyway. Shame as for me a good first innings score in cricket should be about 350, this opens the game up perfectly for a cracking test with both sides in it, not one side out of it after one team has batted. I think the change would help us keep a good score to about 350.
posted on 30/11/11
Agree Googly if a team makes 350 for a first innings score then its game ON. The 2nd test between SA and Aus was a great advert for test cricket.
posted on 30/11/11
I agree, especially on some of those flat tracks in the sub-cont
posted on 30/11/11
The 2nd test between SA and Aus was a great advert for test cricket.
.............
And yet the best advertising tool of this game.....was shunted to a 2 game side show !
posted on 30/11/11
i dont agree as in places like sa and eng it becomes very hard for batsmen to play and test cricket will recert back to 2 runs per over days and it will make them game more unattractive sorry
posted on 1/12/11
I will definitely recommend it in matches played in subcontinent.It will very badly needed encouragement to pacebowlers.