If there’s something that Test match cricket has indeed seen over the course of the last decade or so, then that’s the amplification of the skill of the batter. The sheer bravado and daredevilry involved with the batter coupled with the high amount of innovation that’s currently on display- are the kind of things one wasn’t really familiar with in the 90s and the 2000s. No randomspeak this.
While one had already gotten used to seeing strokes like the reverse sweep and the sweep as well as the upper cut or the Dil-scoop (which had seen Sri Lankan destructive batter T Dilshan as its prime innovator), somewhere you can say that modern day Test cricket has benefited from the advent of T20s.
But then every now and again, one sees new rules and changes being brought into sport primarily for three reasons. The first is to expand the competition base of the game. Second is to widen its appeal. And third is to introduce something that’s new just not only for the fans but the fame’s practitioners as well. Isn’t it?
Which is why, one reckons, according to some preeminent names in the games,a certain amount of newness in cricketing rules is a must. And Sir Sunil Gavaskar has expressed in his no holds barred approach what could be done in Test match cricket.
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In lines with the recent repeat deliveries from none other than Ravindra Jadeja that resulted in no balls and no balls on many an occasion at the Colombo bound second Test that India failed to win, the legendary former batter said that no balls must have fines being asked of the cricketing side.
Since 2021, the great Indian all rounder Jadeja has bowled somewhere close to 85 no balls. This actually prompted spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule to say that maybe the need of the hour is to introduce free hits in Test cricket as well.
But sir Gavaskar is of the view that one simply shouldn’t give away free runs to the team in opposition in red ball cricket.
An interesting excerpt from his coloumn at Mid Day carried the following insights of Mr Gavaskar:
“The no-balls being bowled by the Indian bowlers came in for a fair bit of comment. This has to be looked at urgently because it can change the colour of the game. There are very few aspects of the game that are totally in the players' control, and a batter taking guard and a bowler not bowling a no-ball are two such aspects. Players, when they come for interviews, talk about doing things within their control. Today, with a tape measure available to mark the run-up, there should be no excuses for overstepping the bowling crease!”
