When thinking about innovation, think about bowlers also: Pragyan Ojha on BBL new rules – Sports News

Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha said he welcomes the new rules of Big Bash League (BBL) but insisted that bowlers should be kept in mind when considering innovations for the shortest format of the game.

Pragyan Ojha, speaking on the latest episode of Cricket Talk with Cricketers on Sports Today YouTube, said cricketers and the cricket fraternity need to be open towards change in order to make things interesting, keeping in mind the commercial aspect of the sport. However, Ojha pointed out that quite a few new rules are not giving bowlers breathing space and that’s not a welcome sign.

Ojha’s comments came after the Big Bash League introduced 3 new rules for the upcoming BBL season — Power Surge, X-Factor and Bash Boost.

“If you talk to a Test cricketer from the 70s and the 80s, you tell him about T20 cricket, he will tell you ‘what is this gimmick?’. You need to be open to changes, that’s how you make things interesting for players and the audience. Fans are very important when you talk about the economic aspect. These things are also indirectly connected to making things interesting to viewers, and most importantly, for the players,” Pragyan Ojha said.

“Power Surge, it’s a brilliant thing. But the only problem I have here is what about the bowlers? I always advocate for the bowler because every rule is now pushing the bowler to a corner. No ball, overstepping, there is a free hit, there’s a bouncer no-ball, there is a free hit and if there is an extra-fielder outside the ring, there’s a no-ball. A lot of things are not letting the bowlers breathe.

“So I feel, every time, they think about innovation, they should think about the bowlers also to make it interesting. Everything is welcome, but at the same time, please give the bowlers some breathing space.

“When you talk about X-factor, it’s a very good thing. With the dew factor, you can get in a fast bowler. At times, you see some of your bowlers are under bowled and when you know, you need to chase a big score, you can get in as an extra bowler. At times, when you don’t use a couple of batsmen, then you can use a bowler.”

What are BBL’s 3 new rules?

The ‘Power Surge’ will feature changes in the powerplay rule. Powerplay at the start of the innings has been reduced to four overs. The batting side can take the remaining two overs at any given time from the 11th over of the innings onwards.

The X-factor is a Super Sub, but with minor changes. X-factor will be named as the 12th or 13th player. He can get into the game at the 10th over of the first innings, replacing any player who is yet to bat, or has bowled no more than a single over.

Bash Boost: Every winning team can get four points- instead of the previous two – with three points available for the outright victory and the extra point being given to the team who is ahead on the comparison at the 10-over mark of the chase.