Substitutes and split fielding restrictions approved

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Maybe it is less interesting, but consider this. England are batting, its over 16 and MPV + Solanki are the new batsmen at the crease, both looking to nurdle it around a bit. Ponting calls the first set of fielding restrictions, and suddenly, the singles dry up. Now England have to hit out, and in doing so, Solanki holes out. Flintoff slides in, ready to take advantage of the vast open spaces, but the 5 overs are soon up, Ponting does not call for the next set, and England begin rebuilding again, with the plan that either Flintoff or KP are around for the next set of fielding restrictions! This really could enliven the 15-35 over period of an innings, which of late has been completely one-dimensional and often predictable.

But surely an astute captain would do that whether or not the regulation required him to do so? If there is a tatcical advantage to gain from bringing the field in in certain situations, it will happen anyway.

With the fielding captain in charge, the situation is going to be more like every team having by law to use a bitsa - do you get the dodgy overs out of the way first? Or wait, and hope that you bowl them out / get them rebuilding and then try and hussle the dodgy overs through?

Tactically its much less interesting, as the fielding team have nothing to gain by it. It may amke those middle overs slightly more explosive and therefore slightly more telegenic. But thats different.

[Occasional Fan]

I'm not even sure if a physical cap is presented in cricket these days. I know the rugby unions do not all dole them out any more (the IRFU does, I believe, but the RFU doesn't, or at least that was the way it was last time I was invited to a post match dinner, which was admittedly several years ago). After all, a chap can only wear so many caps at a time!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Goatman

Tactically its much less interesting, as the fielding team have nothing to gain by it.

I agree the fielding team would not have anything to gain by bringing in the restrictions - however there is still a limited tactical element if we interlay this on the substitutions rule. If the batting team are going slower than initially planned, and have wickets in hand, they could substitute a proper batsman and bring in a 'pinch-hitter' as a substitute who can utiltise the fielding restrictions. Ditto for the fielding captain - the substitutes do add a whole new layer of tactical subtlety, of guess and double-guess, bluff and counter-bluff. The ODI format needs this, as since the innovation of 15-over restrictions, it has become tactically rather stale and too predictable.

[Occasional Fan]

I have just heard confirmation on TMS that the new rules will be introduced in the NatWest Challenge next month. I shall be away for that, so please do let me know how it all goes.

[Victor Frankenstein]

I haven't read all the info on it yet but in principle i have no objections to any changes in odi's. Test cricket is the ultimate competition and should remain so without the need for any changes, but one dayers are open to anything that makes them more interesting as they are after all just a crowd pleaser and no real test of cricket so keep them as the quick fire entertainment version of proper cricket.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Alison

Does anyone know what the wording of this new substitutes rule is or is going to be?

Jonathan Agnew does. He's just sent me an e-mail confirming that the TMS team has just received the new regulations, but they are still not on the ICC website as far as I can see. Aggers reckons it will not be long before they are widely available - and I hope he's right - but apparently he doens't have them in a transmittable form. Keep waiting, Alison! Or buzz up to Birmingham this evening and see if Aggers is prepared to share his copy with you!