Martin Crowe suggests abandoning One Day cricket format
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754’s former ace batsman Martin Crowe on Friday criticized the International Cricket Council for its current cricketing formats suggesting that the International cricket should be limited to only two formats -Test matches and T20s, while One Day matches should not be held as they appear less appealing and are a cause of confusion for cricket lovers according to him.
While speaking to the media, Crowe, who is also an executive member of MCC's World Cricket Committee, was of the opinion that ICC must concentrate on having only these two cricketing patterns if it really wants to see a bright future for the sport. He stressed the need to have greater number of test matches with more teams coming in and also to have an annual knockout Test series comprising of seven knockout test matches, each of six day duration. The top four teams which qualify during this series should then be given a chance to host the last four teams in what could be called the quarter finals under the umbrella of Future Tours Programme (FTP) that may commence from 2012.
He said that the three forms of cricket in reality add distortion and chaos to it. If things such as splitting of innings kept happening every now and then, cricket may become a fun park with each child having his own ride and ways of attraction. Therefore, ICC should only promote Test matches and T20s as both of them are a real test for temperament of bowlers and more importantly the batsmen. He argued that Test cricket is one of the most under-rated forms of cricket, which surely will gain more life and relevance if a competition of championship might be added to it. He also suggested that test matches should be made day and night as this innovation would further add to the cause.
Crowe further supported the idea presented by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sanjay-c88566 Manjeraker that the ban on bowling two bouncers in a single over should be lifted as it buries the essence of Test cricket. It is not the first time when Martin Crowe has demanded reforms in cricket. Earlier this year also he suggested the use of pink hard ball in Test Matches, preferring it over the old styled red hard ball.
Ever since the inception and then the popularity gained by T20s, voices in support of limiting cricket to two formats have attained significance. However, there are also people who believe that T20 format has spoiled the essence of cricket and hence should be abandoned. In between these two schools of thought, lays the more acceptable idea that the One Day format should be modified according to the cricket audience's changing attitudes in order to make it more appealing for them.
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