It seems the howls emanating from the bowlers and the fielding captains on the batsmen friendly laws imposed a couple of years ago by the ICC have reached the ears of the men who have the power to rewrite the laws. Clearly, the recent ICC World Cup brought to the world stage the glaring lacunas that existed for the batsmen to exploit.

Yes there were brilliant, incandescent knocks by A.B. deVilliers and Brendon McCullum that might possibly have been executed similarly had there been five fielders outside the circle, but definitely the boldness that batsmen wore was a direct result of opportunities that exited in unpatrolled outfields.

As such the cricket committee of the ICC led by Anil Kumble had suggested some changes to redress the balance and these have now been adopted by the ICC. Question remains: is it enough?

Let us look at what has been redefined for ODIs and then see what impact it may have. Firstly, there is the doing away with of the batting power play; secondly, there will be five fielders allowed outside the circle in the last 10 overs of the innings; thirdly, there is no compulsion to have two catchers in the first mandatory powerplay from overs 1-10.

Read: ICC scraps batting powerplay

Bowlers will lament that nothing has been done regarding the thickness of the bat or any rule that regulates them. That has been their biggest gripe. As has been evident, some mis-hits have gone for six mainly due to the way the bats are being made today; thicker and broader. Even the bottom end generates the power that normally came from the middle of the bat.

However, the changes that have been made may not provide the required relief. For instance the batting powerplay normally worked to the benefit of the fielding side. Batsmen were mind trapped really. They had to go for big hits at a time when the last ten overs were staring them in the face and the batting side needed wickets near the end to hit at will. Yet when they went for their shots in the batting powerplay, they took premature risks and wickets normally fell. That is why the batting side avoided taking them until they were forced upon to after 36 overs.

As such this will be no big advantage to the bowlers. If anything it has made the job of the batsmen less obligatory.

Bowlers will nevertheless see some justice in being re-allowed five fielders outside the circle in the last 10 overs even though the ICC has held firm that two will be allowed outside the circle in the first 10 overs and four in the next 30. What was happening was that batsmen had the advantage of not having to necessarily hit in the air to clear the fielders in the final ten overs. With only four outside (which normally meant one on the off side as captains sought to protect the slog shots and pulls/sweeps by placing three between long on and long leg), batsmen achieved their objectives through ground shots on the off side.

This meant that catching opportunities were scarce as the batsmen simply had to find the gaps on the off and aim where there was no deep fielder. And if that off side fielder was traditionally the sweeper then a ball lifted over mid off would do the job. With an additional fielder in the last ten overs that will be risky as well allowing for some plow back by the bowlers as they would be able to place say a long off or third man along with a sweeper.

The third change that of lifting the requirement of two mandatory close-in fielders in the first ten overs may work both ways. The captains and bowlers are likely to place close in fielders anyway as Imran Khan taught them in 1992 that the way to winning a World Cup (or any ODI for that matter) is to take wickets. And the chances are highest when the ball is new. As such captains would want the close in catchers anyway, at least one, in the first 10 overs. Otherwise with no slip or gully for example, batsmen will be more willing to have a swipe at balls outside off stump; with only two fielders outside the circle (meaning one on the offside normally), the fielding side may actually end up conceding more runs.

But this change will certainly help those captains who don’t have the firepower in the first 10 overs and will use seven fielders at the edge of the circle. At least the allowance is there to be able to plug the sharp singles in the first ten.

But bowlers have been put on the back foot in another change. And this extends to T20 format also. This change is that free hits will now be given for all no balls and not just for overstepping the crease. For instance, a full toss above waist high will also result in a free hit. Not so much of a bother to the bowlers though as these are rare. And a free hit does not guarantee runs; many bowlers tend to get away with it. If anything there is additional pressure on the batsman to get the maximum out of what can still be a good delivery.

The ICC Chief Executive, Dave Richardson, has also revealed that discussions are underway to make the seam of the ball deeper and thicker. It is still in the embryonic stage of consideration but if implemented, it will mean that seam bowlers have an advantage in the sense that seam will last longer. It will also help the spin bowlers as they will have longer time to grip the ball better. On rougher pitches which can depreciate the ball quicker this can be a great help when it comes through.

But with this change more on paper than in process and with the ICC having nothing to do with the thickness of the bats the game still is favoured to batsmen. Clearly the entertainment factor has been the major consideration and as ICC struggles to expand the game this is one aspect they will never compromise on.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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