While the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series enjoyed record crowds there is always scope for change and transformation in the game.
Half-empty grounds for Test matches in other parts of the world attest to this.
In this article I look at how the men’s game could look in 10-15 years time.
Before the wrath of the traditionalists descends upon me, please remember that this article is speculative only. Feasibility has taken a distinct back seat. While there could be a sense of if it ain’t broken it doesn’t need fixing, there is at very least scope for improvement.
Promotion and relegation
There could be three tiers of matches. Tier One is the top ranking playing nations while Tier Two are the next level and Tier Three would be fledgling teams. Tier one would be India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Tier two could be West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Netherlands and Afghanistan. Tier three could be new teams such as from the US, the Middle East and from East Asia.
Over a three-year cycle one or two teams from each tier would be promoted or relegated based on performance. This would assist in promoting competition with the added pressure of relegation and ensuring that the game becomes truly global.
Kagiso Rabada celebrates after bowling Ibrahim Zadran. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Trophies
I visualise that the trophies such as the Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophy be awarded based on composite matches, analogous to the women’s Ashes. This could be four Test matches, three one-day matches and three T20 fixtures, with appropriate weightings for each genre of cricket – Test matches could be given higher weighting than the others.
The team that is the unassailable winner in all three formats is the winner of the trophy. This would respect the importance of all formats of the game and would remove the meaningless 50-over bilateral tournaments, for example.
As a further proposition, the 50-over game could ultimately be amalgamated with T20 to produce a T30 concept.
Another thought is that for one of the matches for the trophy there could be a mixed gender game akin to mixed doubles in tennis. Rules and playing conditions might have to be adjusted accordingly. This could further enhance the women’s game and be a pathway to total integration.
Technology
Cricket in 15 years from now could be vastly different with the application of new technology. For example, it may be possible to place sensors on batsmen’s bats and gloves, linked to artificial intelligence, which would indicate either by sound or light whether an edge has been found. Similarly for pads to determine LBWs.
The sensors could operate to determine whether a ball on hitting the pad would go onto hit the stumps. In that case it would simply indicate whether the ball would have hit the stumps rather than worry about where it pitches or whether more than 50 per cent of the ball is hitting the stumps. Reviews would be redundant. Sensors on the crease line would determine run outs.
In addition, batsmen and bowlers could be assisted, while in the middle, by continuous real time data feed about their performance, including batting techniques, feet position, bowling lines and lengths and the like.
Ultimately one could see robots replacing umpires. As speculated, umpires’ roles would be mainly to keep the game moving, and provide general oversight.
Substitutes
Teams could employ substitutes depending on the state of the game. Two tactical substitutes per game, bowlers and batsmen, would be allowed. For example, a team which has to up the ante for a run chase could replace a slower batsman to come with a faster batsman. The caveat would be that a batsman who is already out cannot be deployed as a substitute.
In addition, there would be unlimited substitutes for injury provided that an independent verification is made of the severity of the injury. As it stands now injury substitutes can be made only for concussion. I suggest widening this to include all types of injury incurred during a game.
Use of tactical substitutes, already implemented in the IPL, could widen opportunities for players to be involved in the big time.
Make the game more user friendly
Particularly pertaining to Test matches the following could be implemented.
(a) Four-day Tests as has already been floated by the likes of Michael Vaughan. A fifth day could be a reserve day for extreme weather. In any case many Test matches do not last the distance.
(b) Make Test matches more flexible in that when bad light threatens play the red ball is immediately replaced by a pink ball under the lights. The question of fairness and advantage to one side needs to be seen in the context of overall crowd entertainment perspectives.
(c) Remove the tea breaks. With scheduled drinks breaks and impromptu drinks that players call for there is enough liquid refreshment.
(d) An idea floated elsewhere is to eliminate the toss. There are enough vagaries in the game to allow it to be subject to the whims of a coin drop. Visitors could get first call in the first Test match and then it alternates.
(e) Again some have commented on the need for deduction of runs, not fines, as an incentive to speed up over rates.
(f) Implementation of penalties for excessive sledging on the part of players, which contrary to the views of some old timers, I think is a blight on the game. It could be that bonus runs for the opposing team are given against fielders and bowlers and conversely deduction of runs are made for batsmen who infringe. Even more importantly it is essential to clamp down on the type of shoulder charge that Virat Kohli performed in the Boxing Day Test through something akin to a send off rule, as rare as that event was.
Clearly implementation of such changes would be difficult, and gradual if accepted at all. Let the debate begin.
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