BBL 2020-21: Darren Lehmann Prefers The X-Factor Rule Over Previous One-day Cricket SuperSub
Updated - 16 Nov 2020, 02:33 PM
Brisbane Heat head coach Darren Lehmann has expressed his opinions on one of the new rules introduced in the 2020 edition of Big Bash League. The 2020 season of BBL involves new regulations that include Powerplay rules, the liberty to sub in a player at any stage of the game, and an extra point for being ahead of the opposition at the halfway mark of a run-chase. Darren Lehmann spoke in particular of the substitution rule, which is more flexible than the Supersub rule imposed in ODI briefly.
The X-factor substitution rule imposed in the Big Bash League differs from that of Supersub, used in ODI cricket between 2005-2006. Under the same, 12th player named before the toss could be substituted at any point of the game. On the other hand, the X-factor norm states that at the 10th over mark of the first innings, each team can substitute one of their starting eleven with either 12th or 13th player, nominated in the team sheet. And the replaced player should not have batted in the match or have bowled more than one over.
Darren Lehmann feels that such a rule would bring success as it delivers an immediate impact on the game, allowing to get the fixtures closer together. Lehmann underlined that the batting team could do away with 140 or 150 instead of 110 or 120 by thrusting a new batsman. According to him, the same applies to bowling as a team gets an extra bowling option if they have gone for plenty of runs.
“I think this one [will be more] successful because it is an immediate impact on the game and it can allow you to bring the games closer together I would think. That’s just me and my personal opinion. Instead of getting bowled out for 110-120, you should with the extra batter be able to make a decent score, 140 or 150, if you’re in trouble. The same with the bowling, you get an extra bowling option if you’ve made a lot of runs. In essence, I think it will make the games closer,” Lehmann said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
“It’s going to be tough on the player” : Darren Lehmann
The South Australian identified a downside that the player subbed out would be frustrated since playing in front of big crowds; everyone wants to showcase their skills. Since it’s unfair to any cricketer to sustain that, that is one area which needs working.
“It’s going to be tough on the player. For me, I would have found that quite frustrating because you’re expecting to play in front of a big crowd, hopefully, and you’d want to showcase your skills. So that’s going to be really hard on the player. That’s the hardest one, being subbed out. So we’ll have to work through that,” he added.
