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The ICC
Cricket Committee (CC) today produced a series of recommendations in
relation to the playing of cricket that will now be considered by the
ICC Chief Executives’ Committee at its next meeting on 24-25 June at
Lord’s Cricket Ground in
England.
The CC, which is chaired by former
India captain Sunil Gavaskar and comprises
12 other members with international playing experience, made
recommendations on the following issues in its meeting that concluded
today in Dubai:
Cricket bats
The CC recommended the
establishment of an expert panel to work with the game’s law makers,
the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and bat manufacturers to review the
laws and regulations governing the manufacture of cricket bats.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that the members of the CC were
unanimous in seeking to preserve the traditions of the game.
“The committee upheld the view that cricket should remain a battle
between a wooden bat and leather ball with the members strongly of the
opinion that innovations that enhance the striking power of a bat
should not be permitted,” said Mr. Speed.
“The CC recommended that an expert panel should be established to
review the matter in conjunction with the MCC, bat manufacturers and
selected universities with the necessary research facilities.”
CC Chairman, Sunil Gavaskar, and former
international players Angus Fraser, Tim May,
Arjuna Ranatunga and David
Richardson have been recommended for appointment to this panel.
To assist the panel in its deliberations, the Cricket Committee made a
number of recommendations in relation to the composition of bats to be
used for international cricket. These are:
1. That the dimensions of the bat
should remain the same
2. That the bat should have a
conventional shape
3. That the splice and handle be
clearly defined
4. That the blade of bat should be
made of a single piece of solid wood
5. That the practice of injecting
substances such as cork is to be illegal
That any cover should be used to
protect, strengthen and repair the bat and not improve the striking
power of the bat
That the bat should remain the
colour of natural wood.
As part of its
deliberations the Committee also considered the specific case of the
Kookaburra bat used by several international players and agreed that
the status quo should remain wherein these bats can be used by all
players pending a final decision from the MCC on their legality in
relation to current regulations.
One-Day International cricket
The CC recommended a
change to the way that fielding restrictions apply in ODI cricket.
It recommended that restrictions
should apply for the first 10 overs of
every innings with two additional blocks of 5
overs to be applied through the course of an innings at the
discretion of the fielding captain.
The CC was of the view that these
blocks of 5 overs could be used
consecutively or randomly at the discretion of the fielding captain.
The CC also recommended the
introduction of soccer-style substitutes for international cricket
wherein a player could be replaced at any stage of a match but would
then be ruled out for the remainder of the match. Both the substitute
and the substituted player would receive a cap and the replacement
could happen at any stage of the match, including during a batting
innings.
CC Chairman Sunil
Gavaskar said that these innovations would
introduce a new tactical dimension to ODI cricket.
“I think change to the way the
fielding restrictions work will enliven the game and introduce a new
element of unpredictability throughout the course of an innings,” said
Mr. Gavaskar.
“It will also be interesting to see
how sides adapt to the tactics of introducing a substitute and to see
what impact this has on selection issues and it is recommended that
this be introduced in time for the Johnnie Walker Super Series in
Australia this October.”
Technology
The CC also
recommended that a technology trial should be undertaken at the
Johnnie Walker Super Series to allow on-field umpires to consult with
the TV umpire on any aspect of any decision. The final decision after
these discussions would remain with the on-field umpire.
The only exceptions to this would be
line decisions, which would be dealt with by the TV umpire in the same
manner as at present, and catches, where the existing process would
also be retained. The current practice for catches is that they are
only referred where both umpires are unsighted as this is one area
where TV replays have proved inconclusive.
ICC General Manager – Cricket, David
Richardson, explained that this trial would build on a similar trial
at the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 in Sri Lanka.
“The Johnnie Walker Super Series will
be our first opportunity to trial this process in Test match cricket,”
said Mr. Richardson.
“We are of the view that the on-field
umpires should retain their position of authority in the
decision-making process and the members of the Emirates Elite Panel
are already averaging over 94 per cent of correct decisions. This
trial will help us understand what impact a referral system may have
on this correct decision percentage as well as the flow of the match.”
It was also recommended that earpieces should be used in all ICC
events to help on-field umpires in judging faint edges. The CC was of
the view that the judgment of no-balls
should remain an on-field matter.
Umpires
The CC rejected a
proposal that there should be two neutral umpires in all international
cricket, meaning that in ODI cricket one
neutral umpire will continue to be appointed by the ICC with one
umpire drawn from home board’s international
representatives.
The CC comprises six members nominated by the players and six
representatives nominated by Member boards. Of the 12-member
committee, 10 representatives (five player-nominated and five
board-nominated) come from Test-playing countries.
This is the third year that this meeting has comprised representatives
nominated directly by current international players. The ICC is
committed to involving players in the decision-making process and this
meeting is supplemented by annual meetings with the captains of the
Test-playing nations.
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