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ICC clears changes for one-day cricket



London, June 26: One-day cricket internationals are all set to see some revolutionary changes.

The International Cricket Council has allowed an increase in overs with fielding restrictions and soccer-style replacements that permit sides to replace a player at any stage of a match.

The chief executives committee of ICC approved the introduction of the innovations on a trial basis for 10 months from July 30.

A statement issued by ICC said the new regulations would be tried out for 10 months after which ICC cricket committee would review them at its 2006 meeting.

"The change to the way that fielding restrictions apply in ODI cricket will see an increase from 15 to 20 overs of restrictions," the statement said.

"These fielding restrictions will apply for the first 10 overs of every innings plus two additional blocks of five overs which must be selected by the fielding captain."

The chief executives' committee decided the additional "close-catcher" field restrictions should only apply for the first 10 overs.

The committee also approved the introduction of soccer-style replacements permitting the replacement of players at any stage of a match.

"The replaced player will be ruled out of the rest of the match while the replacement will be entitled to assume any remaining batting or bowling duties. Both players will receive a cap," the statement said.

"These two innovations may also be (tried) during the NatWest Challenge between England and Australia starting on July 7," it said.

"The England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia will decide whether this will be the case after consulting with their stakeholders to assess the feasibility of introducing the changes within the required timeframe."

Besides the changes to ODI regulations, the chief executives' committee endorsed a proposal to undertake a technology trial during the Johnnie Walker Super Series in Australia in October.

"This will allow on-field umpires to consult with the TV umpire on any aspect of any decision with the final decision remaining with the on-field umpire," the statement said.

"The only exceptions to this will be line decisions, which will be dealt with by the TV umpire in the same manner as at present, and clean catches, where the existing process will also be retained."

The current practice for clean catches is that they are only referred where both umpires are unsighted as this is one area where TV replays have proved inconclusive.

The committee also approved the establishment of an expert panel to work with the game's lawmakers, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and bat manufacturers to review laws and regulations governing the manufacture of cricket bats.

It approved the recommendation from the ICC Cricket Committee that certain principles should be taken into account by the sub-committee in its deliberations.

These principles include that the dimensions of the bat should remain the same, the bat should have a conventional shape, the splice and handle be clearly defined, the blade of bat should be made of a single piece of solid wood, the practice of injecting substances such as cork is to be illegal, any cover should be used to protect, strengthen and repair the bat and not improve the 'striking power' of the bat, and whether the bat should remain the colour of natural wood.

The chief executives' committee considered the specific case of the Kookaburra bat used by several players and agreed the bats should be allowed pending a final decision from MCC on their legality.

All these decisions followed recommendations from the ICC cricket committee that comprises former international cricketers and is chaired by Sunil Gavaskar.

[vivekpm]

Good to see these changes in ODI format. Looking forward to see these implemented. This will surely make things exciting.

Also, one more thing to look forward to is Twenty20. Hopefully in near future we will see this implemented at international level...

Cheers,

[sharpguy]

Replacement concept will be interesting.... as I am not sure.. but I feel..there will/should be a limit to number of players being replaced.. otherwise you will have all batsman while batting and all bowlers while bowling.. India will not get that much of benefit but imagine.. teams like Aussies/Pak where they have top class fast bowlers breed.. so they can include more bowlers while bowling provided they batted first.
in One day matches all the rules are laid favouring batting conditionos.. which is to commerciallize it more and make it more interesting.. high scoring matches've always been more interesting.. Just wondering.. if team chasing the target can come into field with all batsman...