There have been enough rule changes in One-Day cricket to make even the most ardent fan’s head spin.
PowerPlays ranging from 10 to 20 overs at various stages of the innings with only two fielders allowed on the boundary for the first 10 overs, then three out of the batting PowerPlay and then four for the bowling PowerPlay, made it very hard for anyone to keep up. Little wonder over-rates were so sluggish.
Following a World Cup earlier this year where the sport’s law-makers felt the game had tipped too far in favour of batsmen – with just four boundary fielders allowed for the majority of the innings – another change was made.
The benefits – to the bowling team – of just 10 overs of PowerPlay – at the start of the innings, and more importantly five boundary fielders were apparent on Wednesday in the first Momentum ODI between South Africa and New Zealand.
Where 100 runs being scored in the last 10 overs was becoming the norm especially in the 12 months prior to this year’s World Cup and then at the event itself, at Centurion South Africa managed ‘just’ 85 runs – still a big figure, but New Zealand, as their skipper Kane Williamson reflected later, one they were happy to take.
It’s a far cry from the 173 and 150 runs South Africa – thanks in the main to AB de Villiers – bashed against the West Indies at the Wanderers and the Sydney Cricket Ground last summer.
The ‘new old’ fielding rules have brought the bouncer back as a weapon at the ‘death’ something the New Zealanders used well to complement their yorkers in the opening ODI.
Speaking for the bowlers’ ‘union’ Vernon Philander expressed delight that the imbalance had been addressed.
“The extra fielder helps massively. It gives the bowlers more options at the back end,” he said.
“You can bowl your bouncer or your slower ball bouncer because you’ve got that extra guy out. It’s a touch more difficult for batsmen now to line up certain shots because of that extra fielder. So you’re better able to set a field.”
With the bowlers now having more options at their disposal, it will be interesting to see how batsmen adapt. Both teams will be hoping to improve their standards after the somewhat disjointed affair in Centurion.
No-one knows what to expect from the pitch in Potchefstroom on Sunday – once again on account of the timing of the series – but for now, Williamson and De Villiers will be focusing on getting their players into a better rhythm across all three facets of the game.
De Villiers certainly wants to see his team produce a sharper and more energetic display than was the case in midweek. “If we had shown that necessary energy (on Wednesday) it would have been a walkover,” he mused after his side’s 20-run victory.
New Zealand will still be assessing Martin Guptill who injured his left wrist when diving for a catch in the outfield in the first match. They, like South Africa, have a busy schedule when the summer starts, with a tour to Australia and can ill-afford having a player of his experience – and in his current form – absent from that series. - The Star