Former England captains Alastair Cook & Michael Vaughan have suggested a few interesting changes to all teams involved in Test cricket. While normally the new ball in red-ball format is due only after 80 overs, both experts have said that the new ball should be available at any stage in 160 overs, instead of the traditional rules and regulations of giving a new ball to the bowling team after completion of 80 overs.
Cook, who quit playing international cricket in 2018, said the change would add a new dynamic and flexibility in the traditional format of the game. Also, with the implementation of this rule, a dull match can be brought back to life by teams opting for a new ball, which will bring new energy and get the crowds buzzing.
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“A new rule I would add would be, how about, in 160 overs, you can take the new ball whenever you want? You have got two new balls for those 160 overs, and you can take that second ball whenever you want. You could take one after 30 overs if you wanted to,” he said during the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast.
Vaughan calls for greater flexibility in substitutions
Meanwhile, Vaughan, during the same podcast, called for greater flexibility in substitutions. The expert's opinion came in the wake of the recent India vs England Test series, wherein Rishabh Pant, who fractured his toe and batted with pain, was not allowed a substitution, as ICC's rules states only a substitute player can be called if a player is concussed.
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“In the first innings of a game, let’s say Rishabh Pant takes a knock to his hand. He can still bat but can’t keep wickets. Under current rules, India can’t bring on another keeper like Dhruv Jurel unless it’s a concussion case,” Vaughan said.
“We have concussion subs. So why don’t we have substitutes? All of the other sports have it – why are we allowing the game to be reduced in quality if someone gets a clip?” he added.
