Gautam Gambhir, the former India cricketer, has described the two new ball rule of One Day Internationals as being ‘unfair’ and changing the dynamics of the game.
To Gambhir, International Cricket Council should do away with this rule because it works against finger-spinners.
What began in October 2011 to enable the ball retain its shine instead of reversing is now said not to be good for finger spinners by Gambhir. The rule has led to fewer opportunities for finger-spinners to effectively impact matches. During an event in Kolkata, Gautam Gambhir stressed that this rule was discriminatory against them and consequently hindering their participation in white-ball cricket.
“I don’t know what the spirit of cricket is because everyone plays with the right spirit of the game. If there are rules, anyway, there is the spirit of the game. But one thing that I would definitely want to change is to get rid of two new balls,” ANI quoted Gambhir as saying.
“Especially in white-ball cricket because it is very, very unfair on a finger spinner. It is very unfair on a finger spinner to not be playing enough white-ball cricket because there is nothing for them. It’s just not right,” he add.
He urged ICC calling upon them to amend this rule so that every player can showcase his skills irrespective of his bowling style.
“The job of ICC should make sure that skillful individuals have equal rights to demonstrate their talents. But when you snatch talent from some players; it’s quite unfair. Today we hardly get any wrist spinner who play white ball cricket? Why? The blame shouldn’t be upon them but rather ICC for doing so; you know what I would want to get rid off –two new balls- because they make contest between bat and ball much much more even,” said Gautam Gambhir.
