NAPIER, New Zealand — Pakistan great Waqar Younis says modern one-day cricket is “unfair” to faster bowlers and he's glad he's not playing under current conditions. Waqar, who is now coach of the Pakistan team, says flat wickets, fielding restrictions and bigger bats have tipped the balance of the game too far in favor of batsmen.
In his playing days, Waqar was a master of the fast yorker which made him one of the most effective death bowlers in the history of the game. He still believes the yorker is the most effective ball to bowl in the late overs but says bowlers have a tough job under any circumstances.
Waqar told reporters after Pakistan's 129-run win over Afghanistan Wednesday: “It is a little unfair to faster bowlers I would say or to any bowlers, especially when the field is (up). You don't really know which way to bowl.”
“Yes, with death bowling, still I feel the yorker is the best ball,” he said. “They have different theories from different coaches coming down and asking for balls, short balls using those square fielders. But I still feel the good yorker is the best delivery.”
Waqar said trends in modern cricket have been shaped by the desire to appeal to fans.
“It's an entertaining world, I guess,” he said. “People want to see big sixes and all that and that's why the rules and laws have been changed in the recent past. “The wickets have become really flatter and the batsmen are a lot fitter and the bats are thicker. So there are a lot of things going in batters' favor. I guess it's a crowd-pull thing. But for me, I believe it should be an even contest.”
With three 400-plus totals piled-up at the World Cup in just six days, bruised and battered bowlers pleaded for mercy as the record books were being hastily rewritten.
Many in the game fear the tournament has been transformed into a free pass for the world's muscular batsman, armed with ever bigger, more powerful bats exploiting meaner fielding restrictions.
Under current rules, five fielders must be inside the 30-yard circle at all times with only two men outside it for the first 10 overs.
Furthermore, only three fielders can be outside the circle during the five ‘powerplay' overs which have to be taken by the batting team before 40 overs are completed.
Former English county seamer Simon Hughes, who now works as an international match analyst and commentator, watched the carnage unfurl at the WACA and argued that under the new regulations run rates have been boosted by around a third.
“Since the new fielding restrictions, the run rate in the last 10 overs of World Cup games has gone from 7.64 to 10.81,” Hughes tweeted on @theanalyst. Australian captain Michael Clarke believes it is possible a batsman will soon crack the 300-run barrier.
“I think the fact that you only have four fielders out instead of five makes a massive difference, and you've got two brand new balls means you're hitting a much harder cricket ball the whole way through your innings.
“They're probably the main two reasons. I think Twenty20 cricket in general has helped a lot of players in regards to power, hitting fours and sixes, but also hitting balls to different areas.”
Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann called for the fielding restrictions to be re-examined.
“On behalf of all bowlers, bring back the fifth fielder outside the circle! #batsmansgame,” tweeted Swann. — Agencies
