DUBAI: New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has recommended using a smaller ball to make women’s cricket more attractive, while India’s Jemimah Rodrigues believes a shorter pitch is another innovation worth exploring.

The ball used in women’s cricket is slightly smaller and lighter than the one used in the men’s game but Devine favoured ‘a little trial and error’ and see if that worked.

“I think if we are stuck with traditional formats, we’d be missing out on a lot of new players, new kids, new athletes to the game,” the all-rounder said in an innovation webinar organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “I’m probably a big fan of looking at a smaller ball, but keeping the pitch the same size, where I think pacers are going to be able to bowl quicker, spinners are going be able to turn the ball more.”

Rodrigues saw merit in a shorter pitch to speed up the game and win more fans.

“We can also be open to [a shorter pitch], try it out,” said the 19-year-old. “If that is going to help the game improve and take it to the next level, then why not?

“We want to get more people to watch the game and more people to even join the game. So, yeah, I think it is a good idea.”

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2020