The new rule on ball changes in ODI's has drawn flak from Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who said it gave an unfair advantage to the batting side.
MUMBAI: The new rule on ball changes in one-day internationals has drawn flak from Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who said it gave an unfair advantage to the batting side.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently introduced the rule which provides for a mandatory change of ball in the 35th over of each innings. Previously balls were switched when they became soft and pitch-coloured.
Ponting said instead of the 35th over, the ball should be changed by the 41st over as a harder, shinier ball gave advantage to batsmen early in the innings.
"It's a very big advantage for the batting team to get a new, harder ball that early in the innings. We made clear our view after the first game (against India)," Ponting said.
"I think they should try this rule somewhere else before trying at the international level because some day something like this is going to cost a team a game and that could well be the difference in a series.
"It's unfair on a team that does everything right. I think the commonsense (answer) would be to change the ball after the 41st over," he said.
Australia have clinched the seven-match series 4-1 with one more game to go on Wednesday here. The opener was abandoned due to rain.
The ball change rule has also under come fire from tearaway fast bowler Brett Lee while coach Tim Nielsen said the scoring rate was definitely affected by the switch.
"The newer balls we've been using have been pretty shiny and still have the Kookaburra writing on them," Lee said.
"It makes it harder for the bowlers because you're trying to work with a ball that is as old as possible and you come on at the 34th over and you're bowling with a new ball again."
Nielsen said he had noticed a change in scoring rates after the change.
"After the 34th over our run rate's escalated quite a bit. We've been going on at four or five an over and it's got up to seven or eight a couple of times. The different ball is harder and comes on to the bat better."
Nielsen pointed out that Australia's approach to bowling with the newer ball depended on who was batting at the crease.
"We've brought Lee back for an over or two when the ball is soft to see if the ball will reverse for him and then he's bowled a couple with the ball when it's newer," he said.
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