Former India spinners slammed the recommendation of using two new balls from each end in an ODI innings.
Former India spinners slammed the recommendation of using two new balls from each end in an ODI innings.
It was one of the key recommendations by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Chief Executives' Committee during a meeting in Hong Kong on Monday in order to spruce up the ODI format. The suggestions will come into effect from October 1 if approved by the ICC Executive Board.u00a0
Currently, it is mandatory to replace the white ball after 34 overs as it loses colour and becomes difficult for the batsman to sight the ball.
While Bishan Singh Bedi did not see any point in the use of two new balls in an inning, Venkatpathy Raju said it would only complicate the matter.
"I don't understand why such a recommendation was made. Nobody was complaining about one ball. Everything was fine. We are simply complicating things," Raju told MiD DAY.
Bedi said: "One-ball thing was fine. This is going back to the old system where two new balls were used."u00a0
The new ruling will be able to give fast bowlers swing for longer periods. But it may be a raw deal for spinners who would have otherwise preferred to bowl with an older one to get that extra bit of turn. However, Bedi said it wouldn't make much difference in the 50-over format. "This would have affected spinners in Test matches, but it will hardly make a difference to them in ODIs because the ball is anyway changed after 34 overs," said 64-year-old Bedi, who debuted against West Indies in 1967 and ended his career against England in 1979.u00a0
Former India offie Erapalli Prasanna has a different take on the issue. "It is not a bad idea to try out alternate overs with a new ball. I don't think spinners will face any problem in getting the turn," he said.
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