Huge ODI scores product of fan demand: Hussey
21 Feb 2015 11:02 PM GMT
Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey believes the increasing benchmark scores in ODO cricket is the direct result of a demand for entertainment from various parties. The prevalence of 300-plus totals already at this World Cup has led to a chorus of comments that ODI cricket is now too heavily dominated by batsmen, reports cricket.com.au. “Fans and broadcasters and administrators want to see excitement.
They want to see fours and sixes being hit. They don’t want to see batsmen struggling and dot balls, plays and misses and things like that. I’m sure they’d love to see the wickets, but maybe the balance has gone too far,” Hussey said. Increased fielding restrictions, shorter boundaries and bigger bats have all had an effect on expanding what is considered a benchmark score across 50 overs. Meanwhile, the introduction of two new balls appears only to have forced a rethink in strategy, with batting sides now saving wickets for an explosion of aggression in the final 15 overs instead of targeting the match’s opening exchanges as the time to tee off.
“Maybe that’s the challenge for the bowlers, but they’ve improved. They went through developing new deliveries like slower-ball, bouncers and wide yorkers and different types of slower balls. Perhaps they have to keep improving as well,” Hussey said. Hussey is working as a coaching consultant for South Africa in the World Cup.
They want to see fours and sixes being hit. They don’t want to see batsmen struggling and dot balls, plays and misses and things like that. I’m sure they’d love to see the wickets, but maybe the balance has gone too far,” Hussey said. Increased fielding restrictions, shorter boundaries and bigger bats have all had an effect on expanding what is considered a benchmark score across 50 overs. Meanwhile, the introduction of two new balls appears only to have forced a rethink in strategy, with batting sides now saving wickets for an explosion of aggression in the final 15 overs instead of targeting the match’s opening exchanges as the time to tee off.
“Maybe that’s the challenge for the bowlers, but they’ve improved. They went through developing new deliveries like slower-ball, bouncers and wide yorkers and different types of slower balls. Perhaps they have to keep improving as well,” Hussey said. Hussey is working as a coaching consultant for South Africa in the World Cup.
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