Cricket is a great game, but like any sport it could always do with some improvements.
These are five ways to improve the sport of cricket.
1. Remove DRS
Sometimes in sport you get a howler. Sometimes the howler is for you, sometimes against you. It’s all part of sport. At the moment, the world has accepted DRS but India haven’t.
You cant run a sport with rules for some and not for others. But India in this instance are right – the DRS is not needed. Accept the umpire’s decision like it always has been.
They tend to even themselves out naturally over a career. If you get a howler, live with it. You weren’t the first and won’t be the last.
2. Make 50 over cricket extinct
Does anyone get truly excited about this format anymore? People still go for a family day out. Players still play it cause it brings money into their pockets. But the days where Dean Jones would walk out on to the MCG and 70,000 Victorians would go crazy for the Australian number three are long gone.
Now there would be 20,000 people standing to stretch their legs. Cricket needs a long format and a short format – not one in between.
3. Introduce two tiers for Test cricket
This has been put forward by a few different people. But to have a top six and a bottom six playing each other will mean the ‘Test’ stays in Test cricket.
What the West Indies produced in Hobart and the first two days in Melbourne was anything but Test cricket. They need to play nations that are their level, like Bangadesh and Zimbabwe.
4. Less cricket
No more meaningless one day tournaments and don’t overdo T20 cricket. Reduce the workload and the amount of cricket played. Cricket has fallen victim to those wanting to make a lot of money from the sport.
In 2001 when Australian toured India, the stadiums were full. India’s crowds have fallen dramatically since then. There needs to be an effort to get these people back to Test cricket.
5. More grass on pitches
We need to help the bowlers a little more. A few more green tops, especially in Australia wouldn’t hurt.
The WACA is a good example. It’s sad to see a pitch, that was the quickest in the world in the 70s to the 90s, now become a normal strip.
Someone find a way to get that old pitch back.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Being a test snob, agree with much of what you say. Extending on eradicating or dramatically lessening ODI's, the reasoning is obvious as you already touch on. On a more worrying level, the glut of them and the fact that most use rotations in and out of them must put an axterix near results which gives rise to the chance of match fixing. T20- should be solely domestic, tapping into tribal feels. As for tests: 1, Set a standard on pitches and impose heavy sanctions for venues rolling roads 2, put a freeze on equipment/bat advances 3, Get rid of the ridiculous bouncer rule 4, Series must be a minimun three games 5, Schedule games to start Friday, none should start midweek 6, Bring back the back foot NoBall rule
Andy
Guest
Why has DRS been a good innovation? I think its fun and its interesting and im not saying its a bad thing but i dont see how its a good thing either. The howlers still happen and the technology isnt good enough seeing as it seems you need to get a double positive from both snicko and hotspot which implies that one or both have a margin for error that is found unacceptable. I just dont see how its better than not having it. I do like the idea of less meaningless games, none of this 2 or 3 test series either, 5 test series all the way with a couple of warm up tests aswell.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Excellent reply. Glad to have read it. Thanks.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I am a DRS fan. the problem isn't DRS but how iot is used. A problem I see is that umpires share this position around in a series. Like footy and tennis, the third umpire should be selected solely as this. The ICC has to come down hard and state that all test playing countries use DRS. I think it has been a good innovation overall. I am not a T20 but it is now far more popular than the ODIs. Look at how CA has shifted the local one day comp to a fortnight at the start of the season and played in one city only to get it out of the way. Make future tours tests, T20 and tour games. Your third point, we already have test teams and associate members. leave it at that. Perhaps a promotion system for test teams from the associate members. I see where you are coming from with less cricket. In two and a half months we have had one test series against the Kiwiis, a test series against the Windies, the current ODI series and a test series in NZ in just over a fortnight, On your last point, totally agree. The problem is so many T20 and ODI games rely on dead wickets for the batsmen to flourish and the bowlers become cannon fodder. Lets see some pace and spin again in our wickets.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Big fat "NO" to number three, but agree with the others (unsure on whether to retain the 50 over game, for now I would keep it but am tempted by the alternative). If the 50 over format is retained it should not be the constant calendar filler that it is now. Test cricket needs more teams, but at a certain standard. The plan to just give Ireland one match (unclear whether this would be Test status) if they win the Intercontinental Cup is setting them up for failure. The step from playing amateurs to playing professionals - if Zimbabwe's players can be called that - in the game's premium format is to much. Ire;and and Afghanistan, probably Scotland, should be getting regular FC fixtures against counties/states/provinces/weaker "A" teams now; and stronger "A" teams before being admitted to Test cricket. Reducing teams in the top tier is the next step in undermining the game. After the BCCI/CA/ECB coup, it is clear that finances will be siphoned back to the revenue suppliers (the already wealthy). The ICC unfortunately will not give the assistance required to maintain standards. Funding is only part of the issue but is desperately needed, or West Indies and Zimbabwe might not have Test teams (Zimbabwe didn't play a Test in 2015) in five years. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan could join them in the five after that. In Pakistan's case largely due to not being able to play home internationals, though they did host a couple of limited over games against Zimbabwe complete with a bomb on the edge of the venue precinct. The game is at severe risk of rapid contraction without deliberately shutting more teams out from the top. Along with funding, teams need regular matches against all other teams. A schedule that ensures all teams play each other home and away in four years would do that. With significant sanction for not doing so, such as not being invited to host or play ICC events like World Cups (20 and if retained 50 over). That would also make the Test rankings more readily understandable to fans, and with a final series added could include context.