The two new ball rule was introduced in 2011 by International Cricket Council. There has been a huge difference in the game since inception of this rule. The recently concluded five match ODI series between England and Australia is a fresh example of this unfitting introduction.
Scoring 481 runs in a 50 over game was only possible in video games before this rule was implemented. But nowadays this has become an easier task giving the bowlers no respite. It has totally turned into a batsman’s game with the possibility of reverse swing entirely ruled out of the equation.
In the quest to advertise and commercialise cricket, true essence of the game has been diluted. There is no margin of error for the bowlers in today’s era. In 2015, New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee expressed his concern on elimination of swing bowling from the game of cricket. He indicated that swing bowling is a skill and people love to watch low scoring encounters as much as they love high scoring battles.
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Sachin Tendulkar recently condemned the ‘two new balls’ rule saying that it is a “perfect recipe for disaster”. Umesh Yadav backed the Master Blaster saying that this will kill the art of swing bowling which is highly inappropriate for the game of cricket.
“Because of the two new balls, it is tough for the fast bowlers to contain runs. If you have only one ball then it gets older and older and you get reverse swing. With two balls, reverse swing is rarely seen in the ODI game right now, so it is difficult for fast bowlers especially if they don’t get the lengths and the yorkers right,” Umesh Yadav said.
He expressed bowlers agitation in batting friendly conditions like England where it is a nightmare to bowl in death when the ball is doing nothing.
Umesh Yadav had a great outing in the second T20 against Ireland and he will love to disturb the timber quite frequently when he plays against England in the long tour that begins from 3rd July.