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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2012 22:23 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2012 22:23 |
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With the increased popularity of the circus that is Twenty20 cricket, the introduction of a new format for domestic limited-overs cricket may be just the tonic the sport needs. The domestic limited-overs competition has suffered from spectator fatigue in recent years, with dwindling numbers and even less interest from sponsors who jumped ship to throw their weight behind its sexier cousin, T20 cricket. The most notable change to the new format is the reduction from 45 to 40 overs per team, but it is the tactical changes that are likely to provide the domestic scene with the proverbial kick in the buttocks it so desperately needs. The challenge for Cricket South Africa is to rekindle the interest in the shorter form of the game because let's face it, the middle of an innings is so mind-numbingly boring. The new competition allows teams to use the 12th man as a full member of the squad, and the new batting power-plays provide the teams with more tactical flexibility, which should lead to more interesting and competitive games. Just what the doctor ordered. The change to the 12th man's role allows for an extra batting or bowling option and also gives rise to the opportunity to remove a cumbersome fielder from play, as is the case in rugby or soccer. The new rules also do away with extending the hours of play for matches affected by rain, but instead reduces the number of overs accordingly, which should make for more exciting viewing. The new format has already gotten off to a cracking start, with no less than three centuries scored in the first round of matches. The shorter format also allows for a later start, which, in theory means more bodies through the turnstiles. While the new format is still in the pilot phase for this season, there is no doubt that the bigwigs at the International Cricket Council are watching events with keen interest and the day may yet come where the adjustments are adopted on the international stage, where 50-over cricket is dying a slow and painful death.  CONTINUES BELOW TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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