Gambhir Slams ICC for Two New Balls Rule in ODIs: Former Indian player Gautam Gambhir slams the International Cricket Council (ICC) for introducing two new ball rule in ODI cricket. According to Gambhir, it is the worst thing that happened to the 50-over format.
The two-new-ball rule was introduced in One Day Internationals in 2011. According to this rule, two new balls are used in the 50-over game.
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Gambhir Slams ICC for Two New Balls Rule in ODIs
Talking on R. Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Gambhir said that this rule has apparently destroyed fingerspinners. He also pointed out the fact that spinners like R. Ashwin and Nathan Lyon couldn’t have much success in white-ball cricket since the introduction of the rule.
“The worst thing that has happened in cricket is the introduction of two new balls. You’ve taken the entire skill of a fingerspinner away from the game, whether it’s a left-arm spinner or offspinner. You’ve got two new balls, you’ve got five fielders inside, how do you expect a fingerspinner to get anything out of a surface and how do you expect a fingerspinner to be included in the playing XI?
“You’ve taken out two of the best fingerspinners in the world – you [Ashwin] and Nathan Lyon. The reason why you guys didn’t play was there was nothing for you guys. If you were bowling the 20th over, you’re bowling with a 10-over new ball, and with five fielders inside and on a flat track. And with big bats, and with power-hitters, and with small boundaries, and with smaller boundaries and on top of that DRS.
“I think ICC has messed it up and we can change it going forward and have one ball for entire 50 overs.”
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir also said the rule demotivates young talents to ‘take up fingerspin’ because they know the future isn’t bright for them in ODI’s or T20s.
“It’s not about you and Nathan Lyon. It’s about the job of ICC. The job of ICC is that you promote every kind of bowler who wants to become an offspinner and fingerspinner. Tell me how many youngsters going forward want to take up fingerspin? This art of bowling off-spin or left-arm spin? No one would want to, because they know they’ve got no future in white-ball cricket,” Gambhir said.
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‘Change the Ball Manufacturers If the Ball Can’t Stand’
According to Gambhir, the ICC should have changed the ball manufacturers if the ball could not stand 50 overs. Instead, the International Cricket Council decided to introduce two new balls.
“I love that format or the rule where you had one new ball. It’s not a player’s problem. If the ball manufacturer can’t keep the ball in good shape for 50 overs, might as well change the manufacturer. Don’t introduce two new balls because one ball can’t hold whatever colour for 50 overs. That’s a manufacturer’s problem. When people talk about taking wickets in the middle innings suddenly they realise that the only wicket-takers could be wristspinners. Unless you’ve got a carom ball or a flicker, but where is the art of bowling genuine offspin or a left-arm spin which can beat people in the air or off the wicket as well?
“Because there’s nothing off the wicket and you’ve got five fielders inside. So I think ICC has messed it up and we can change it going forward and have one ball for entire 50 overs,” he added.
Gambhir is working as a mentor to the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024. KKR has completed the league game by being at the top of the table. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 today.
Check Out: Gambhir Slams ICC for Two New Balls Rule in ODIs
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