IPL 2018: Dean Jones Opines Eights Runs Should Be Awarded to 85-metre Hit
Updated - 26 May 2018, 09:05 PM
Former Australian batsman and cricket expert Dean Jones devised a new way to make Twenty20 cricket even more exciting. Jones reckoned the sport will attain a new flavour if sixes above 85-meters, be awarded eight runs.
According to Jones, this would bring in power players such as Windies’ Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, and Kieron Pollard to name a few owing to the equation.
During the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ball travelling over 100-metre have been a norm.
Jones suggested that the available technology should be implemented to add excitement to the gentleman’s game.
“The only innovation I’d like to see is that we are very good with technology, so every six hit over 85 metres should be an eight,” Jones told Hindustan Times.
Referring to the hits from Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, who tee the golf ball over 350-meters, Jones cited out that the likes of Gayle will come into the scheme of things.
“They love Chris Gayle and all these boys that hit (the ball) miles. Same in golf, they love Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy who hit 350 meters,” added Jones.
There have been frequent occasions in T20 cricket when teams need seven or eight runs off the final ball.
With this new law addition, the game can still be won in the presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Russell and others.
“If the game is on the line and they want eight and hit it over 85 metres, and you are hoping Gayle, (Andre) Russell or (Kieron) Pollard is there, it goes for eight,” said Jones.
On Popularity of IPL:
While talking about the popularity of IPL, Jones pulled out a data which states that IPL is the third most viewed league in the world.
“It’s the third most watched sport in the world after the English Premier League and the NFL (National Football League). In terms of players, it’s the best by miles. In terms of viewership, it attracts the biggest numbers,” he said.
Also Read: IPL 2018: Star India Records the Maximum Revenue in Tournament’s History
On Future of Test Cricket:
The renowned cricket pundit Dean Jones then went on to state that the future of Test cricket looks bleak as the end consumer demands the high-voltage nail-biting contests of Twenty20 cricket.
“Test doesn’t get your arousal levels up as (much as) a T20 match. Come down to the wire, 15 off the last over, how many times does that happen in Test cricket? So it’s coming down to what television wants and TV is demanding T20 cricket,” concluded Jones.
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Andre Russell
