Shane Warne Proposes A Radical Solution To Tackle The Slow Over-Rate Problem

Former Australian spinner Shane Warne has blasted the slow over rates in the ongoing ODI series between India and Australia in the latter’s home. The over rates have indeed been a significant issue with players taking plenty of time to complete an over or two. Shane Warne has made a radical proposition of announcing a strict penalty for the side bowling first if they don’t get done with the overs in the time allocated.

India and Australia both dragged the match well ahead of the allocated time in the first ODI while fared slightly better in the next. The ICC also fined India 20 per cent of their match fee after the first ODI. The likes of Adam Zampa and Steve Smith have also expressed concerns about the same and added that something has to be done about the same. In particular, Smith claimed that it felt like staying on the field forever.

Shane Warne feels that ICC has got to be stringent with it and observed that there had been too much loitering around. Warne proposed that the side bowling first if they complete only 46 overs within the allocated time, that’s how many overs they must get to bat. And the target will remain the same for them.

“I think we’ve got to be really strict with it. There’s just too much meandering around. I think (a penalty of) 25 runs per over you’re down (on the allocated time). For instance with India bowling first today, if by the allotted time they only bowled 46 overs, that’s how many overs they get to bat. So whatever the target is, you take off those overs,” Warne told Fox Sports.

They’re just fluffing around: Shane Warne

Shane Warne has lashed at the Indian bowlers for fluffing around too much and not being on the top of the mark even when the batsman looks ready. The 145-Test veteran reckons that the chief problem lies in between the overs as they are not getting back to the mark quick enough, which should not be happening.

“I don’t think it’s so much bowling the overs, it is more or less in between overs fluffing around. The batsmen is just about ready. Why isn’t the bowler back to the top of his mark waiting? The batsman is ready. They’re just fluffing around. The real issue is in-between overs, not getting back to your mark quick enough. That shouldn’t be happening,” the 51-year old added.

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