As we're approaching the conclusion of the group stages in the ICC World Cup, one thing has stood out for me. 260-280 doesn't seem to be a par score in most matches anymore. I can remember when 200 was a decent score, then it became 240-250 before the bar got lifted even more. Now 330 isn't even safe anymore!
Who'd want to be a bowler? You're not allowed to do this, you're not allowed to do that! It doesn't seem a fair contest to me! Yes, we all like to see runs being piled up but just look at the game between the two host nations. A low scoring affair which produced great excitement finished by a six!
Is the game becoming a bit one dimensional? Better pitches, smaller grounds, bigger bats, better hitting. With all of these pointing in favour of a batsman, is there any need to restrict bowlers and fielders?
I think it's time the ICC consider relaxing these restrictions. I'd like a bowler to come on and bowl a bouncer if he wants to. Sure enough, if it's too high call a wide, but why restrict him to only two short ones an over. If AB de Villiers or Chris Gayle smash it out of the park effortlessly, why restrict the bowler to have to have 5 fielders closer than 30 yards to the bat?
A batsman can reverse sweep, scoop, innovate and do whatever he wants, but a bowler has to say which side of the wicket he wants to bowl from. What's the next restriction going to be? The bowler has to say whether he's about to bowl an outswinger or a googly or a yorker? Maybe it's time for the the one-day game to become more of a fair test and leave the batting circus to 20/20 cricket. In times where test cricket is in decline and fears for the future of it exists, let's not do the same to the 50 over format, please.
Sunday 8 March 2015
Sunday 25 January 2015
West Indies Triumphant in Port Elizabeth
An explosive 64 not out off 40 balls by Andre Russell secured the West Indies' first win of the series against South Africa earlier today. The visitors looked dead and buried at 73/5 after 22 overs in pursuit of the Protea's 262 and when the 9th wicket fell with another 24 runs required, very few pundits would have given them a chance.
Russell, however, doesn't lack any confidence and showed the public just why he's known as superman in some circles, finishing the game in style by dispatching Kyle Abbott over long on for 6, ending a losing streak of 16 consecutive matches to South Africa. He was given good support by Marlon Samuels (68) and Darren Sammy (51) before the lower order helped steering the ship over the line with nine balls to spare.
Earlier in the day the festive St George's Park crowd, spurred on by the famous band, were entertained by David Miller hitting his maiden century for South Africa, having been in a spot of bother themselves on 76/4. Miller who finished on 130 not out will be delighted in the way he managed to build and construct an innings of this stature as he's trying to cement his place in the South African starting line-up ahead of the World Cup. His destructive ability to score runs very quickly at the end of an innings is known by many a bowler across the globe and on several occasions the strong South African top order hasn't left him much time to build an innings, but today it was needed and no doubt managed to install much needed faith days before South Africa cross the Indian Ocean and head to Australasia.
It was the innings of Andre Russell the people of PE will remember for a long time though as the tour heads to Centurion for the final ODI, South Africa having already won, leading 3-1.
Russell, however, doesn't lack any confidence and showed the public just why he's known as superman in some circles, finishing the game in style by dispatching Kyle Abbott over long on for 6, ending a losing streak of 16 consecutive matches to South Africa. He was given good support by Marlon Samuels (68) and Darren Sammy (51) before the lower order helped steering the ship over the line with nine balls to spare.
Earlier in the day the festive St George's Park crowd, spurred on by the famous band, were entertained by David Miller hitting his maiden century for South Africa, having been in a spot of bother themselves on 76/4. Miller who finished on 130 not out will be delighted in the way he managed to build and construct an innings of this stature as he's trying to cement his place in the South African starting line-up ahead of the World Cup. His destructive ability to score runs very quickly at the end of an innings is known by many a bowler across the globe and on several occasions the strong South African top order hasn't left him much time to build an innings, but today it was needed and no doubt managed to install much needed faith days before South Africa cross the Indian Ocean and head to Australasia.
It was the innings of Andre Russell the people of PE will remember for a long time though as the tour heads to Centurion for the final ODI, South Africa having already won, leading 3-1.
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