Quantcast

Tendulkar's 'radical' idea dismissed by MCC

The World Cricket Committee proposed several recommendations but Tendulkar's suggestion wasn't one of them

Sachin Tendulkar’s radical idea of playing with two pitches in India’s first-class system has been shot down by the MCC World Cricket Committee, which says it would compromise the integrity of the competition.

"First class cricket is about playing competitive (cricket), challenging yourself,” said Marylebone Cricket Club's World Cricket Committee member and former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja after the panel’s to-day meeting in Mumbai.

"It (playing on two pitches) will be like lessening the importance of first-class cricket. That is what the committee felt."

In order to better expose India’s first-class players to conditions found abroad, Tendulkar suggested the Ranji Trophy (India’s first-class competition) be played with two pitches side by side, one a green top played on with Kookaburra balls, the other a spinning surface with an Indian SG Test ball.

"I have thought a lot about neutral venues in Ranji Trophy (a concept that is being trialled this season),” Tendulkar told the Hindustan Times.

"I have a suggestion which can be radical. When we go to places like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa, we play with Kookaburra balls, which swings early.

"Think about a young Ranji batsman playing with SG Test (balls) in India and then facing difficulty overseas.

"Let us have the first innings on a green top with Kookaburra balls, which would give openers a challenge.

"Even bowlers will have something. Our spinners will also learn how to bowl with Kookaburra (balls) on green tops.”

"Now let there be a pitch adjacent to the green top, which would be a rank turner.

"Now the second innings will be played on that track with the SG Test ball which would also help our batsmen play against quality spin bowling.

"We have been too focussed on playing pace in overseas conditions but we should not forget how to play spin bowling.” 

Scorecard: India v England, fourth Test

Former England captain and MCC Word Cricket Committee chairman Mike Brearley said Tendulkar’s suggestion devalued first-class cricket.

"We talked about that too,” Brearley said. "We talked about the conflict between using first-class matches as training and the fact that they are proper games of cricket in a proper competition, proper feeling that you're in a real match. Those two things can be in conflict.

"I personally think the committee would have probably said the same that we felt that (Tendulkar’s idea) went too far in turning first-class cricket into mere practice matches for international cricket."

While Tendulkar’s idea didn’t get the tick of approval by the MCC, the Committee did put forward several recommendations, including setting a limit on bat edge and depth sizes and the introduction of sending off a player.

International cricket is more affordable than ever this summer, with adult tickets from $30, kids from $10 and family packages from $65 across every day of international cricket. Price for purchase at match. Transaction fee from $6.95 applies to online and other purchases. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.