Let’s be honest about cricket, it’s not for everyone. Unless it’s T20, I really can’t get into it.
However, there are ways to suck people me in, and that’s what this series is all about. Improving sports for the greater good.
Now, obviously not everyone is going to like every single sport, but when the conversation of ‘most boring sports’ comes up, cricket seems to top the list – along with football that is.
But it doesn’t haven’t to be that way. Let’s face it, it’s a game that drags on a bit. T20 is a great step in the right direction, but the sport still has so much further to go. So, I thought I would do the sport a huge favour, and come up with a few suggestions on how to improve the game.
Get rid of the stumps
Replace the traditional stumps slightly bigger net with goal posts, like a rectangular soccer goal.
LBWs still exist, and hitting the post would cause the goal to light up and still count as an out, but the removal of the wicket keeper would allow for another fielder. Also, if you bowl the ball into the net, the team batting gets minus ten runs.
A ball going into net will always be more exciting than a ball hitting some wood. Sometimes a little change can make a big difference.
Two balls
Have both batters hitting at the same time? If that doesn’t make the game more exciting, nothing will.
Imagine one batsman getting bowled out while another hits it for six. Or two batsmen get out at the same time – and get minus 20 runs. We could call it ‘two for the price of 20’. It writes itself.
This improvement would drastically cut the amount of time the game is played. Imagine this at a T20 match, it’s a thing of beauty.
Add more ways to score runs
Running back and forth, hitting it for four or six, it’s been done to death. What the game needs is some more exciting ways to score runs.
Firstly, have four drones flying around the pitch at all times. If a batsman manages to hit one, that’s eight runs and the batsman can’t get caught out. Each side only gets four drones per batting turn.
Imagine if it got done to the last ball. Australia’s seven runs down and Steve Smith hits one right into the drone to clinch the victory for the Aussies against England by one run.
Admit it, you got goosebumps just reading that.
Individual competition
Imagine this. Every side or country picks one ‘champion’ to represent them. This can be done by having a competition of their own within their side to see who gets to play in this tournament. Let’s call it The Ultimate Cricketer.
Two men go into a batting cage. They flip a coin to see who gets to bat or bowl first, and then they continue until the batsmen gets bowled out, or after 20 legal bowls.
Every time the batsman hits one out of the cage, he gets a run. That’s the only way to get a run.
The bowler on the other hand, can catch him out. However, the bowler must bowl, and can’t get roll the ball along the ground.
Then, the players switch roles and do it again. The winner moves on to the next stage, until one man is crowned the Ultimate Cricketer.
These additions would be a long shot, but there’s no doubt that they would make the game more watchable, and definitely bring in a lot of new fans. Also, if Australia were the first to trial, and adopt these changes, we would have the upper hand against other nations. Lord knows we need it.
Next time, I will be looking at improving the great, yet repetitive and predictable game of tennis. Keep an eye out.
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Sign the man up for a contract next season!
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