New Rules for the ODI? My take

My take on this (as if it matters)

1. I am a bit apprehensive about the changes. Maybe it is the inertia for change. But I agree with Sachin that it will take sometime for all of us to actually figure this out. Not only the pros and cons, but overall usage of the rules. Lets wait and see.

2. This does add a bit of spice to the middle overs where everything was getting predictable.

3. On the contrary, the game is becoming more and more lop sided to teh batsmen. Good luck bowlers --- soon u all will be mere ball boys like Tennis -- Twenty Twenty is another nail in their coffin. I would like to see some more balance between the ball and the bat. how about allowing as many bouncers as possible? All 6 of them.

4. I do not sincerely think that this complicates the game. It does give more options to strategize to the captain. But complex is not the word I would go for

5. I still think that genuine all rounders like (Flinntoff, KP, Klusner) will give an edge to the side. Albeit, a lack of all rounder will no longer be that big a handicap.

6. The substitution rule also gives bowlers some more teeth, where you do not have to bowl in tandem with a part time bowler.

7. 20 overs of field restrictions will also mean more massacre from the likes of Hayden, Sehwags, Adams etc. But splitting the over could mean that I as a bowling captain can wait until likes of Laxman walk in to try out the quota of last 10 overs.

As I said, gives the captain (or the think tank) more options.Lets wait and seeBTW - anyone has any takes on how we can introduce any more bowler friendly rules?

Basically you will now need players (middle order) who can up the tempo of their game in a flash and will not have the luxury of "settling in".

Laxman, Kaif, Kumble (Yes as a batsman) cannot do that (so far).

To some extent Dravid and Mongia tooWhereas, Sehwag, Dhoni, Sachin, Ganguly, Harbhajan, Pathan, Zaheer can do it.

Most of the tailenders though cannot dig it in if required and Dhoni yet has to prove his utility with some more knocks.The fielding restrictions really make it interesting now.

This rule can be used by the bowling side to a lot of advantage.


My belief is that India lacks genuine all rounders since Kapil has retired.

We need to groom Irfan into a good all rounder. However most of the others vying for that spot (Manoj P, Robin Singh, Reetinder S, Anil Kumble etc) have at the most been utility players. They are either good batsmen who can bowl a bit or bowlers who sometimes have a good day with the bat.

I am not sure how we can actually breed all rounders, but surely we can groom some potential players. Irfan is the best in the lot as long as he can keep himself fit. Prem - do you know of any good budding prospects. "selector" has given quite a comprehensive list.

What is ur take on the breed per se?