From Dave Richardson, Australia
Where is the ICC up to with their deliberations on possible new formats for the tired 50 over game? I wonder whether the following is worth some thought.
As we all know the key is getting the fielding restrictions right with enough incentive for both bat and ball but most importantly the viewing public. Without tinkering too much and not to complicate or confuse I would advocate an incremental increase in fielders allowed outside the 30 yard zone on the following basis: Overs 1-5= 1 Fielder, Overs 6-15= 2 Fielders, Overs 16-30= 3 Fielders, Overs 31-45= 4 Fielders, Overs 45-50+ 5 Fielders.
The above formula would provide some increased incentive to score through the middle phase of the innings and is based on a simple 1-5 increase shared equitably across the overs with the balance of 2 five over spells at the commencement of the innings with the least fielders and the last five with the most outside the zone.
To add further excitement and edge I would also include the incentive of a captain being able to forfeit placing an extra fielder outside the zone for an increase of 1 run per over as long as the restriction remains, or alternatively minus 1 run per over if there is an increase by 1 fielder over the stipulated number per phase.
This probably needs more work but conceptually could add some further excitement for all involved, no doubt there could be some variations on this in particular increasing the number of runs either added or subtracted. This is very much off the top of my head but I thought might be worth some further debate.
With the kind of success that the shortest form of the game has enjoyed over the last few months and the minimal progress that the game of cricket has made since its birth, I believe that it is time for the F50 to go. 50 over matches are agonizingly long and not in the least entertaining. Test cricket is the real deal and if it needs a supplement to keep the game alive, T20's are the best choice.
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