Sachin Tendulkar Says Two New Balls in ODIs is 'Perfect Recipe for Disaster'

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: June 22, 2018, 11:58 AM IST

File image of Sachin Tendulkar. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has called for a rethink on the concept of two new balls in ODI cricket, arguing it has resulted in bowlers being unable to get any reverse swing in the death overs. Tendulkar made the observation in a Tweet after watching high scoring matches in the ongoing series between England and Australia. After scoring a world record 481/6 -- the highest men's ODI total of all time -- in a crushing 242-run win at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, England chased down a target of 312 with ease in the fourth game at Riverside on Thursday.

“Having 2 new balls in one day cricket is a perfect recipe for disaster as each ball is not given the time to get old enough to reverse. We haven’t seen reverse swing, an integral part of the death overs, for a long time. #ENGvsAUS,” Tendulkar wrote.

Having 2 new balls in one day cricket is a perfect recipe for disaster as each ball is not given the time to get old enough to reverse. We haven’t seen reverse swing, an integral part of the death overs, for a long time. #ENGvsAUS

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 21, 2018

Tendulkar's view was endorsed by legendary Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis, who said that it is because of this particular rule that reverse swing has 'almost vanished' from the game. Younis' post read: "Reason why we don’t produce many attacking fast bowlers..They all very defensive in their approach...always looking for change ups..totally agree with you @sachin_rt reverse swing is almost vanished.. #SAD"

Reason why we don’t produce many attacking fast bowlers..They all very defensive in their approach...always looking for change ups..totally agree with you @sachin_rt reverse swing is almost vanished.. #SAD https://t.co/hPHoMXujcr

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) June 21, 2018

Tendulkar & Younis aren't the only former greats to raise concerns about the impact of two new balls on fast bowlers. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in 2015, legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding had warned that the move could make life very difficult for members of his fraternity.

"The white ball behaves a little bit differently to the red ball,” Holding said. “If the manufacturers can get the white ball to behave similarly to the red ball, you would have to look at two new balls as well. If you had two red balls, because years ago, if you had two red balls, bowlers would have dominated. With two white balls the bowlers have no chance of dominating because the balls don't do enough."

The concept of two new balls in ODIs, wherein the bowling team would get fresh balls from each end, was introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011. While initial reasoning behind the move was to give the faster bowlers something more to work with as the shine would remain for longer on the balls, it has turned into a nightmare for fast bowlers, who have been unable to get any reverse swing post the 40th over.