cricket bats loom but Sachin Tendulkar sees problems in pitches

Restrictions on cricket bats loom but Sachin Tendulkar sees problems in pitches
AAP12:00AM JULY 14, 2016

David Warner has an ally in Sachin Tendulkar in saying pitches are the key to correcting the imbalance between bat and ball.
Cricket bats could be reduced in size by October next year if a ­recommendation from the MCC world cricket committee is ­approved.

A 2014 report commissioned by the MCC, the guardian of the game’s laws, found the thickness of bats had marginally increased in the past century and that edges had broadened by 300 per cent, helping even mistimed shots find the boundary.

The independent body has recommended that the overall depth of a bat be reduced to between 60mm and 65mm, and edge thickness be decreased to a maximum of between 35mm and 40mm.

There are no rules currently governing the depth of a bat, with the game’s original laws only restricting the width and height of the willow. Bat depth has increased from 18mm on average in 1980 to up to 80mm in the modern game, while edges have also ballooned to 55mm.

The 14-person committee, which includes Australians Ricky Ponting, Rod Marsh and Tim May, believes the time has come for a rule to be introduced.

“There is incontrovertible evidence that the balance between bat and ball has changed, favouring the former, over recent years,” the committee said in a statement.

“The overwhelming (but not unanimous) view of the committee was that it has become too easy for batsmen to clear the boundary in all forms of cricket, even with mistimed shots.”

However, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar sees more bowler-friendly pitches as a solution to the rising imbalance between bat and ball.

Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013 as the game’s most-prolific batsman both in Tests and the 50-over format, demanded more assistance for bowlers from playing surfaces.

“The wickets need to change; they need to be more helpful for bowlers,” Tendulkar said. “In T20s, the greatest of bowlers are being reverse-swept. Three-hundred is no longer competitive in ODIs.

“So there should be at least one format where bowlers have a better chance of executing their skills and making it more interesting for spectators.

“I don’t think it’s got much to do with bats, but I’m sure people on the (relevant) panel will be able to look into it.”

Tendulkar’s views echoed the sentiments of Australian opener David Warner, who said last week that flat pitches rather than bats with thicker edges were the reason batsmen had the upper hand in Test cricket.

The committee also cited safety concerns for close fielders, bowlers and umpires due to the size and power of modern bats. Former Australian Test captain Ponting in particular has been vocal in recent times about the need to introduce restrictions.

The recommendations need to be ratified by the MCC’s main committee before being introduced into the official laws.

The committee also backed the application of Twenty20 cricket for the Olympics and a two-tiered Test system.

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