To encourage cricket fans to watch more Test matches and One-Day Internationals, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to implement some significant reforms. The world cricket governing body is now considering requiring at least three Test matches in each World Test Championship (WTC) series. Two balls should only be used in the first 25 overs of an ODI match, according to recommendations made by the ICC cricket committee.
When the apex body convened for its meetings, it is believed that these new recommendations were decided in Dubai. Additionally, the ICC is eager to request that host countries play more Day and Night Test matches in the upcoming cycle so that more fans may visit the stadiums and take in the game’s longest format.
Since their inception in international cricket, the Day and Night Tests have become increasingly popular; yet, in recent years, they have become increasingly rare. Only one such match has been seen by fans this year, and that was in Brisbane between Australia and the West Indies. This was actually the first Day and Night Test in about a year.
ICC will make bold adjustments in the upcoming WTC Cycle.
The ICC is not pleased with nations that typically choose to play only two Test matches in a series. According to them, this has had a negative effect on viewing and helped the old model lose favour. The two-match series has resulted in less cricket, which the ICC has not taken well.
Some nations only play two Test series, including as Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa. Only Australia, England, and India participate in lengthy Test series. Test cricket isn’t promoted by that, and the point distribution becomes incredibly unjust. An ICC source told The Times of India that the recommendations are meant to eliminate these discrepancies.
The ICC committee believes that more spectators are attending the stadia as a result of the pink-ball Tests. Turnouts in Pakistan were quite low recently. More tickets were sold for the three pink-ball Test matches in India than normal. “More pink-ball Tests should be scheduled in test-playing countries,” the insider stated.
The ICC has also recommended changes to ODI cricket in the meantime. The international organisation thinks that bowlers are severely disadvantaged when two balls are used in ODIs. It makes the task of the big hitters simpler since the balls stay hard in the last overs.
Consequently, the ICC is probably going to implement a new rule that will limit the number of balls that can be used in the first 25 overs to two. Following this, the remainder of the innings will be played with just one ball.
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The captains will be notified of the suggestion. We need to come to an agreement on this. But according to the insider, this is the greatest way to reinstate finger spinners and reverse swing in the game.
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