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What are the new recommendations by the ICC Cricket Committee?

by Sahil Jain
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) are looking to promote and rejuvenate Test cricket. It is not just the longest format but also, ODI cricket which is on the ICC Cricket Committee’s agenda. Hence, some new recommendations have been put forward by the ICC Cricket Committee.  

A minimum of 3 games for WTC Series 

In a move to promote Test cricket, the committee has recommended that all series that are a part of the World Test Championship (WTC) should comprise a minimum of three matches. At the moment, there is a lot of uneven distribution of Tests between the teams. Big teams like India, Australia and England have longer series’ and even play five-match Test series against each other.  

However, most of the other teams largely feature in two-match Test series’. Hence, the aim is for every team to have a bigger and fairer shot at making it to the WTC final which is played once every two years. 

The disparity in Test series length hinders the promotion of Test cricket globally and disrupts fair competition. Establishing a three-Test minimum would address this imbalance and offer every nation a fairer shot at competing in the WTC,” an ICC insider was quoted saying by Times of India. 

If this recommendation is approved, every nation that is a part of the WTC will play a minimum of 18 Tests in a two-year cycle. That will ensure that there is a lot more Test cricket being played every season all over the world.  

More Day-Night Tests?

Another recommendation by the ICC Cricket Committee is to increase the number of day-night Test matches. It is understood that the pink-ball Tests have drawn more crowds than the traditional red-ball games, especially in countries where Test cricket audiences have fallen drastically in the last few years.  

More day-night Test cricket would mean that the crowds will be able to catch live cricket even after office hours which isn’t the case with the red-ball format.  

It’s important to evolve with the times. Day-night Tests have shown they can bring more people to the stadium, and it’s time more countries embrace this format to keep Test cricket alive,” an ICC spokesperson was quoted saying.  

At the moment, only Australia have a dedicated pink-ball Test every home season. Overall, only 22 day-night Tests have been played in men’s cricket and 12 of them have been hosted in Australia. 

ICC suggests to use only one ball after 25 overs in ODIs

Apart from the World Cup which is still one of the most prized ICC titles, the relevance and popularity of ODI cricket has reduced significantly over the last years. It is constantly under scrutiny.  

In 2011, the ICC introduced the rule of playing with two new balls in ODIs i.e. one at each end. However, that rule is set to change. In order to restore the balance between bat and ball, the ICC Cricket Committee has recommended using only one ball after the end of the 25th over. This will bring in reverse swing back into the game, an art which diminished from the 50-over format with two new balls. Moreover, it will also keep the spinners interested as bowling with a slightly older ball might give them some help. 

The introduction of two balls has led to higher scores and taken reverse swing and finger spinners out of the equation. This recommendation seeks to restore balance between bat and ball in ODIs,” an ICC Cricket Committee member was quoted saying.  

The proposed recommendations will now be reviewed by various international cricket captains along with the coaches, players and the boards before any final decision is made.  

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