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Sunday, 30 November 2008

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Power play a mockery

Fifty over cricket was primarily invented to bring in the spectators who were deserting Test cricket, because the established game was beginning to be a bore.

Test cricket was a big yawn because the action dished out during the five days was unattractive with most games ending in stalemates with the contesting teams not showing any urge to play attractive and forceful cricket that spectators yearn for.

When it was first introduced, 50 over cricket was the thing and spectators began to flock to the venues because the action was terrific and in the process the players, the Cricket Boards and the organisers were filling in their coffers.

Then business tycoon the late Kerry Packer surprised all cricket boards when he set in motion his now famous and eagerly looked forward to night cricket.

That was a Packer innovation to spite Cricket Australia with whom he had an axe to grind because his Channel Nine was refused telecasting rights of Australia cricket.

The cream of cricketers joined the Packer bandwagon and then began to roll the Packer circus that also saw the cricketers who joined Packer earning hitherto unearned sums of money.

With most countries losing their stars, Cricket Australia had to go on bended knees to Packer and by granting Packer the rights to telecast the game the dust settled and everyone was happy.

But the night cricket that Packer had introduced has come to stay and it will remain that way till the end of time.

Many innovations

With this style of game gaining momentum lords of the game introduced new laws and also new gimmicks to make the game more interesting to the players and the spectators.

Firstly the run ups of the pacemen were curtailed. Then fielders inside the ring and outside were limited within the first ten and fifteen overs, then came the Duckworthy/Lewis system to decide on a result when rain intervenes and the free hit off a no ball.

Then came the power play for the bowling side and the latest gimmick is the power play awarded to the fielding side. While all that was good and appreciated what is evoking laughter and making a mockery of the game is when power plays are allowed when it becomes an overs reduced game due to rain.

The other day we were watching the third one-day action unfolding on Star Sports between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Harare and could not but laugh our sides out at the powerplay rule which allowed just two overs. Usually it is five overs.

When this game was reduced to 26 overs a side, it should have been 26 overs a side hit, with to hell with the powerplays, which to say the least was a mockery. What powerplay when the overs are reduced?

Zimbabwe(no)we back to big time

While it is admirable and commendable the attempts by the International Cricket Council's attempts to diversify and broadbase the game, when doing so they must do so with a lot of thought instead of just rushing things.

It was well and good to introduce Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to the big league. But the ICC should have made it their business to see to the growth, development and progress of cricket in those two countries.

If what we are seeing of Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh against South Africa, then the game does not seem to have a future for them. And to make matters worse the Indian Premier League and the Indian Cricket League is beginning to further kill their cricket, especially Bangladesh.

The two leagues are also a big worry to most cricket boards with the players more keen to play in the league and not represent their countries. That is understood because the two leagues are offering money, and big money at that and some leading players are willing to quit playing for their countries and concentrate on the two leagues.

The only way out for the ICC whether they like it or not is to recognise both leagues. Why the ICC is delaying recognising the IPL is just inexplicable.

No improvement

The ICC had sent a three-member committee to see how things go in the cricket scene in Zimbabwe, and make a report whether they should be in the wilderness in Test cricket or be admitted to the big league again.

I can't see the committee recommending that the Zimbabweans be re-admitted. Watching them against Sri Lanka in the one-dayers and the slaughter that is taking place, it would not be long before they are banished from the cowboy game too.

Everything is in turmoil in Zimland. In addition to the uneasiness in the game's administration and the game itself, their infrastructure is also poor with only two venues, one in Harare and the other in Bulawayo capable of conducting cricket.

Brett Lee 300 wicket club

Brett Lee the Australian 'blond bomber' who bowls tremendous pace joined the band of 300 wicket takers when he had Jimmy how brilliantly taken by skipper Ricky Ponting in the slips in the Kiwis second innings.

With the agencies boycotting reporting the Australia - New Zealand Test series Lee's tremendous effort did not receive the desired publicity and it was a pity that it went unnoticed.

Lee has been a great asset to Australian cricket and has given nothing but his best when handed the new ball. He has tremendous pace, able to get the ball to lift off a disconcerting length, has the ability to move the ball both ways and packs a life threatening bouncer.

The fast bowlers run in fast for a number of overs and rarely do fast bowler pocket three hundred wickets in the big league considering that they have to bowl at the best of batsmen. Lee's effort deserves to be recognised and honoured.

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