One way traffic not good for ODIs

Two interesting battles are going on simultaneously, which show the contrast between ODIs and Twenty20.

As many as 743 runs in 79.3 overs were scored in the two Twenty20 encounters between the West Indies and England at a run-rate of 9.37 runs per over. It even led to a strange piece of statistics where eight runs per over in the last seven-eight overs would have meant much less, compared to the going at the then run-rate! Something which is increasingly going to be the trend in the coming days.

However, when India and South Africa battled it out in first two Belfast ODIs, there was more sanity in proceedings as the run-rate did not even cross five runs per over in most stages of the first match, and never in the second. Four scores between 225 and 250 meant only 940 runs were scored in 198.4 overs at a rate of 4.74.

Now, which one is better? A battle between bat and bat, or a battle between bat and ball, which sees the pendulum swinging both ways! Why should people pay to watch One-Dayers and not Twenty20 tournaments, which threaten to be undiluted bang-bang affairs? Why should not Twenty20 World Cup, with the batsmen always in charge, attract more viewership on the telly than the ODI matches?

It people continue to be loyal to ODI cricket, it is because they also would like bowlers to take revenge from time to time. The thrill of a low-scoring encounter can be as satisfying as a run-feast, which can see over 600 runs being scored in a single day. Had West Indies lost the 1983 Cup chasing India’s 300, it would have taken so much of romance out of victory. How many people remember the last two World Cup finals, when dead pitches allowed Australia to bat the opposition out? So many low-scoring encounters against Pakistan still continue to linger in memory!

The knowledgeable ones, who have masterminded free hit after front foot no-ball in ODIs have forgotten that it will take away pace considerably from the equation. A no-ball on right spot, which should cost only one run, will have a potential to cost six more. Bowlers will be more concerned about the front-foot, than banging the ball on the good length spot. That is certainly going to impact their speed as one lapse could allow a batsmen get off the hook, or rob their team of victory. Just imagine Lee and Akhtar worrying about no-balls.

A positive step was taken when one bouncer per over rule was introduced in ODIs after seeing the plight of the pacers in ‘’no-bouncer period’’ -- a rule which had made pacers look like unarmed paratroopers jumping into enemy territory in broad daylight!

Are we going back to those dark ages again. One-way traffic is certainly not going to be good for ODI cricket. Let it be the preserve of Roads, and Twenty20!

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