"Game Needs To Be Reshaped" - Anil Kumble, Tom Moody Propose Changes To ODIs

Former Team India head coach Anil Kumble shared his perspective on potential changes to the ODI format to make it more balanced and engaging for both bowlers and batters. Anil Kumble suggested that revisiting the use of reverse swing would add excitement to the game.

ODI cricket is experiencing a global decline in popularity, leading to decreased stadium attendance. In contrast, T20 cricket is gaining prominence with the rise of franchise leagues worldwide. Cricket enthusiasts have a preference for the shorter format of the game.

It Is Certainly Alive – Anil Kumble

In a conversation with ESPNCricinfo, Anil Kumble expressed a desire to see fewer 300-plus and 400 scores in the format. Kumble proposed a return to using one ball instead of two, or alternatively, allowing captains to choose one of the balls at the end of 30 overs.

“Yeah, it is certainly alive. The only thing that I would like to see is not too many of these 300 plus, 400 scores. One thing that perhaps could be looked at is the use of reverse swing coming back. It certainly helps the bowlers and then makes the game even more closer and more interesting. So I’m keen that instead of the two balls, you sort of come back to the one ball or if you want to change that, at the end of 30 overs, give the option for the captain, choose one of the balls. Then ensure that you at least have a 35-over ball by the end of the 50th over rather than a 25-over ball,” Anil Kumble told ESPNCricinfo.

The Game Needs To Be Reshaped – Tom Moody

During the same discussion, Tom Moody emphasized the importance of keeping the audience engaged and suggested that 40 overs with a single ball would be ideal.

“I think the game needs to be reshaped. The 50-over game, I would suggest, is to turn it into 40 overs, and just one white ball. I think times have changed; 50 overs is a very long time. We need to make sure that we keep the audience engaged with the game, and I think 40 overs is absolutely perfect with just the one ball,” Moody said.

Also read: 5 Indians, 3 South Africans, 2 Australians, And 1 Players From New Zealand Make The Cut As Anil Kumble And Matthew Hayden Pick Their Team Of World Cup 2023