I have a few ideas regarding not just the World Cup but the entire ODI format, but I don't think anyone will listen. Here goes anyway:

• While I accept that some form of fielding restriction would be required in the ODIs to keep the game flowing, I do not like the idea of powerplays or any other form of alteration of the fielding setup during a game.
• IMO, a maxiumum of four outfielders should be allowed beyond the 35-yard circle throughout the 50 overs. The fielding captain would be free to use them in any position, including within the circle if he wished, as long as the total number beyond did not exceed 4.
• No other fielding restriction of any kind; certainly, no 'compulsory close catchers' etc.
• Wides should be more properly and strictly regulated. At the moment, bowlers suffer if the ball is more than a few inches outside the leg stump, while they get away with ridiculously wide deliveries on the off side. Umpires must be trained to use the 'line rule' more effectively.
• Day-Night matches should be banned totally from the 50-over game. Grounds with floodlighting facilities can use them for 20-20 games that start and end after dark.

For the Cricket World cup itself, I feel that some sort of balanced format is required, one that allows the 'minnow' countries to take part - after all they do add a bit of fun element to the competition - without making the tournament too long like this time around. IMO, having a straight knockout immediatly after the first round is too drastic because it will eliminate a big team for one bad day - remember, it may be your team! Therefore, I believe the following format is best:

1. A First Round of 16 teams in 4 groups (say A,B,C & D) of 4 teams each - exactly like it was in this World Cup. Two pints for a win, 1 for tie or no result and zero for a loss as before. The top 2 teams from each group progress to the second round, but do not carry over any points.
2. A Second Round, where the 8 teams making it are reshuffled. The winners of Groups A & D together with the runners-up from B & C make up a Group 1 while the Runners-up from A&D and winners of B & C go to Group 2. The 4 teams in each of these 2 groups play 3 games each within their group exactly like the first round, with the same points system.
3. The Semi-final, where the winner of Group 1 plays the runner-up of Group 2 and vice versa.
4. The Final between the winners of the two semi-finals.

That way, every leading team gets a fair chance of going all the way without everyone having to play everyone else as it is now.

I believe in the provision of the extra day for rain affected matches, but I feel that the Duckworth-Lewis rule should not be brought in at any time on the regular day. It should be enforced only at such time when it becomes obvious that the game cannot run its full course even on the second day - which is highly unlikely anyway.

I like the world cup format Nostromo, it would mean less games played (8 I think for the winners) and would stop the points carried over thing.

With astronaumical amounts of money involved in the cricket world cup, I think cricket boards who bid to stage the world cup in their countries MUST have at least one full fledge indoor stadium facility like the SKYDOME in Toronto, Canada, as the first requirement. This ground should be used for semis and finals. The boundries should be at least 110 yards. And, IMO, the finals should be a best of three contest. You can not always judge a team just by one game cuz it could be anybody's day.

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Had cricket been a religion, Imran Khan would've been the god.

Should the semi-finals and final be allowed to be reduced to a 20 over a side match? I don't think they should. 20-20 cricket is a different game and the winner of that format may not be as adept at the 50 over format. It seems rediculous to me to allow the winner of a 20-20 match to qualify for a 50 over World Cup final. I think if 40 overs can be played in the day then one team bat for the entire 40 overs and the 2nd innings played the following day. That would be fairer and more sensible. That applies to semi-finals and final.

I'm still rooting for the 1996 format, I don't see anything wrong with quarter finals. As for banning all day/night matches, I agree also but only for World Cup matches, day-nighters are pretty crucial to the general ODI circuit.

Personally though I didnt really see an awful lot wrong in the 2007 format. Granted it seems incredibly long and tedious, but that was mostly because four of the major cricketing nations didnt even turn up. I think the Super Eights would have been a cracker otherwise, the format can't be given the blame for this.

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- VVVRulz..

I really like some of the above ideas.

I agree about 60 over matches. This would have two impacts. If you limited the bowlers spells to 10 overs, a partimer/allrounder will have to do at least some of the work and bowling becomes less of the Australian type 'fast more fast and fast again with Hogg's spinners for good measure'

Day/night matches should be 20/20 only

The red ball should be used (and not the white)

I wondered about doing two innings of 30 each but i don't think it works on reflection

I agree about the bats. I'll have a bat as wide as the stumps please. No, they are to big and the 'sweet spot' is the bat. This needs legeslation.Or let the bowler rub the ball with sandpaper.Or bend his elbow.

As for the format I don't agree with only having 8 teams.I think the more teams the better. World cup football has a few more than eight . They have a qualification stage and I think that would be good for cricket.

Ban the Icc from having any involment. Get fifa to do it.

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I have a dream.... (Martin Luther King)

I think the format they had for this World Cup is the best one. All they have to do to make it shorter is to play two matches per day during the Super Eights. The format can't be blamed for India and Pakistan not making it through, they just weren't good enough so why should we have to compensate them. As for the the game going to sixty overs I'm not too keen on. How many teams struggle to even bat out 50? Plus the middle period of the innings would just drag on too long. I do agree that batsmen have it easier than bowlers but I think the standard of bowlers around the world right now is pretty poor.

Apparently, the TV companies will not agree to this.