The legendary Sachin Tendulkar weighed in on the waning interest in ODIs on Friday saying the format has undoubtedly become monotonous and “heavy” for bowlers.
“It’s getting monotonous, no doubt. The current format, which has been around for a while now, is two new balls (per round). When you have two new balls, you’ve kind of eliminated the reverse swing.
“Even though we’re 40th in the game, it’s only 20th on this ball. And the ball doesn’t start reversing until around the 30th. That element is missing today because of two new balls. The format current, I feel, is heavy for bowlers,” Tendulkar said.
“Right now the game is getting too predictable. From 15 to 40 it loses momentum. It gets boring.”
Tendulkar felt that while there was no harm in keeping the 50-over format, teams should alternate between batting and bowling every 25 overs, as this will give opponents an even playing field and eliminate the throw, dew factor and other conditions. the equation.
“So both teams play in the first and second half. Also commercially it’s more viable because there will be three breaks instead of two.”
Three of the Border-Gavaskar Tests between India and Australia were recently completed in two and a half days, leading to massive criticism from the pitches, but Tendulkar said it was part and parcel of the cricketer’s job to play on different surfaces.
The batting maestro also felt that to keep the primacy and allure of Test cricket intact, one should not look at how many days the game was ending, but rather focus on collecting more eyeballs.
“We have to understand one thing that test cricket should be engaging and it shouldn’t be about how many days it lasts, five days or anything. We (cricketers) are supposed to play on different surfaces whether it’s a bouncy track, a fast track, slow track, spinning track, swinging conditions, sewing conditions with different balls,” Tendulkar said on Sports Tak.
He also said that at a time when the ICC, MCC and other cricket bodies talk about making test cricket entertaining and the No. 1 format there was no harm in matches ending in three days. Also, touring crews should not think they will get featherbeds and should make careful preparations.
“When you’re touring, there are no easy conditions. You have to understand what’s going on, assess everything, and then start planning things. For me, the most important factor is the type of surface on which we play, because it is the heart of test cricket.
“All the guys including ICC, MCC etc. we talk about Test cricket. How Test cricket can continue to be the No. 1 format. So if we want it we have to have some thing for bowlers because bowlers ask a question (off) with every ball and the batter has to answer it. So if that question itself isn’t interesting enough, how are you going to get more eyeballs.
He said sport should be results-oriented and everyone should go home knowing “who won, who lost”.
“We shouldn’t worry too much about the number of days. I think the game should be exciting enough or not. Nobody wants to go home without knowing who won and who lost,” Tendulkar added.
He also said there was no harm in giving the new ball to a spinner if the surface called for it.
“Instead of a fast bowler throwing an opening spell, why can’t a spinner throw a wonder spell. It’s just a different type of surface we play on and it should also be difficult enough to that hitters can speak up and express themselves … if someone hits well, they get points, it’s simple.”
SHOULD WE STILL ALLOW SALIVA?
Tendulkar advocated that with the current history of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ICC should overturn its rule banning the use of saliva to shine the ball.
“I’m not a medical expert, but I think it should (the saliva) come back because it’s happened over 100 years. Guys have used saliva and nothing drastic has happened. A few years between the two was tough and rightly that decision (to ban the use of saliva to polish the ball) was taken, but now it’s (Covid-19) behind us,” Tendulkar said.
When asked if he saw himself as a director of BCCI in the future, Tendulkar replied, Maine itni zyada fast bowling nahin ki hai (I have never bowled so fast)…because (l (former BCCI president) Sourav (Ganguly) always considered himself a fast bowler,” Tendulkar joked.
(With PTI entries)
