Sachin's formulae!!! Do we really need to introduce path breaking changes?

For someone who is a die-hard fan of Sachin's batting, I should have naturally accepted his proposal and joined the bandwagon of people who are supporting his proposal. Nah!!! I am not quite biting the idea as yet. In no ways am i either joining the bandwagon of people who are just plain against it. A lot of it just seems like resistance to change. Lets just quickly draw a parallel with a couple of recent innovations?

1. Has the "free hit" idea helped cricket? It sure has. We don’t hear of bowlers delivering 11 no balls and just having a bad day anymore. They realise those 11 balls could cost them atleast 35 odd runs and if its a Sehwag or Yuvraj show then you are talking about a score between 44 to 66 runs!!!

2. Has the additional powerplay system helped teams? It sure has. Captains have to think a lot more. Although most batting captains have still not arrived at a clear formulae to handle it. There is palpable excitement when a powerplay is taken?

3. Has the TV umpiring system worked? Its a huge mixed bag. I don’t think the administrators have still arrived at a clear diktat of where to use it and where not too? And clearly international cricket is no testing ground. I remember the Sri Lanka-India series a year back, pretty much every referral for Ajantha Mendis was given because he bowls wicket to wicket. However, elements like whether the batsman was attempting to play the ball and how far forward he was from the wicket did not really come into the match. Again an Ishant Sharma was always turned down because he was too tall!!! My initial view is that it can be used for run-out, detecting inside edges for LBW decisions and the like. But, using it detect whether a catch was taken cleanly and to detect edges is still a far cry. The fun of having characters like Peelo Reporter, David Shepard, Billie Bowden is something cricket may not necessarily want to loose. Imagine a day when the umpire has a plaster on his mouth and just indicates a four/sixe/no-ball/wide and directs everything else to a computer box placed in the pavilion.

The formulae from Sachin is something which is apt to test in the upcoming Challenger tournament which involves international players like Sachin, Dhoni and the like. The following are my apprehensions with the same:

1. While I agree one day cricket feels a tad longer on the back-drop of T20 cricket, one of the exciting parts of one-day cricket is the way a batsman or team builds the innings. With 25-over format, that is bound to broken
2. One-day cricket featuring meaningless matches. I think there are 2 parts to it. Major challenge with this is the lack of a divisional structure much like Soccer. There are so many meaningless matches that take place. We should do away with 7 match series, uncalled for bi-lateral series and so on. Once the schedule is planned better, quality cricket is bound to follow. But, the second fact of cricket featuring meaningless matches is bound to continue in the proposed format as well. Imagine team batting 1st scoring like 70 odd runs in wet conditions for the loss of 5-6 wickets. Team batting second following up with 120 odd for 2 wickets? What we have essentially is a no contest unless the 2nd time around the last 3-4 batsman can score like 200 runs in 25 over’s.
3. It feels like an abridged version of test cricket with the innings and all rather than a one innings match where there is a lot of speculation on what is a good target, how do I build my innings and so on.
4. It could break the momentum of a brilliant spell or batting display. Would someone want to take a break when Sachin is on a roll or if Lee is one fire? For a die hard cricket fanatic, having a break in between a tough duel between the defense of Dravid and the swing of Mcgrath or the power or Yuvraj and the guile of Murali is as big a miss as it can get! In a test format, these duels can favour the batsman as he can see a spell off, but in a one day format where runs matter, he really can’t hide for long!

There are clear benefits to the system as well:

1. Both teams are more or less benefiting or affected by the conditions. England in June or day-night matches in India, Sri Lanka and so on
2. A result is assured in a lesser time.
3. Players can re-coup and come back in the 2nd innings with a clear target in mind. A lot of speculation that surrounds the team batting 1st is gone

Nonetheless I think its an idea worth trying. We could end up with a modified, chiseled new One day format that sells much better. Let’s wait and watch!!!