RAJKOT: Thanks to the success of Twenty20 cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to make one-day cricket more interesting and exciting with the introduction of new powerplay rules from October 1.
Under the new powerplay, the batting side can choose the timing of either second or third PP (each lasting five overs). Earlier, it was the fielding side which chose both.
There are 20 powerplay overs in each innings of a 50- over international. The first 10 overs are mandatory powerplays - only two fielders outside the fielding circle (radius 15 yards) and two stationary catchers positioned. There are two further powerplays, each of five overs. One will be nominated by the fielding side, the other by the batting side - here there are three fielders outside the circle and no stipulation on the number of catchers.
Both Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and English captain Kevin Pietersen felt the new PP rules as interesting.
“They have made it interesting.
The last powerplay, the five overs, will be decided by the team which is batting.
You (fielding side) won’t have any liberty of planning. It means when you plan a few strategies on the ground, suddenly you find the opposition asking about the five overs.
You have to be ready for it,” said Dhoni.
“Right now we are making guesses and predictions. Yes, it will be interesting and make us do a few more things on the ground”.
Pietersen welcomed the new PP rules saying: “I think the world of cricket is changing.
Test (cricket) is the top band and then I see Twenty20 has obviously taken on the big stage. If you draw 50-over cricket in a Twenty20 format, some new formats will have to be drawn up. I think it’s just a test to get 50-over cricket close to Twenty20.”