ICC to watch bowlers carefully in limited-over cricket

By Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: The ICC has been tightening the screws on the part of the bowlers in limited-over cricket and the latest invention has been the bowlers foot fault at the point of delivery. An experimental law is to be implemented by the Cricket Committee of the ICC, most probably during the Twenty20 Championship to be held in South Africa this September or during the England tour of Sri Lanka in October, with regard to the bowlers foot fault.

The ICC Cricket Committee is headed by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, South African Dave Richardson, and Tim May the former Australian spinner who is the CEO for the Federation of International Cricketers. Present Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena too, was present at the last meeting but it is not certain whether he is playing an intregal part of the Cricket Comittee.

In addition to the existing no-ball law of a bowler over-stepping the popping crease or cutting the return crease with his back foot at the point of delivery which is considered a no ball, in the experimental law the batsman has also been given the liberty for a free hit in the subsequent ball delivered without risking the chance of being dismissed unless a run out.

When asked for his opinion, former Sri Lanka Test and ODI player Graeme Labrooy said he was not in favour of it.

"True cricket is a batsman's game and the crowds gather to watch the batsmen scoring runs and that's what the whole game is. But the spectators do appreciate the bowlers feats as well," said Labrooy.