After the idea of a “split-ins” format was initially pitched by Sachin Tendulkar in one-day cricket way back in 2009, Cricket Australia noticed the same and implemented the format in their domestic one-day competition in 2010 by dividing each innings into two parts – one of 20 overs and one of 15 overs.
However, the format was eventually scrapped after underwhelming reviews and they switched back to the traditional 50-over format. Ten years later, Sachin has again put forward a plan for a one-day cricket split-in format and feels that there must be four 25-over innings each instead of two 50-over innings each. The 50-over innings will be divided into two parts of 25 overs, according to Sachin’s plan, with the teams batting alternately with a 15-minute break before each innings begins.
Sachin was quoted by The Times of India as saying, “The 50-over format is the first thing that needs a look-in.”
He added, “As I had suggested, the format needs a tweak of two innings of 25 overs per side with a 15-minute break between each innings (a total of four innings between two teams).” The former Indian skipper claims that the format could give birth to any number of innovations.
Sachin said, “The number of innovations that can be brought in is huge. Let’s say there’s a 50-over-a-side match between Team A and Team B. Team A wins the toss, bats 25 overs; then team B bats for 25 overs; Team A resumes innings (with whatever wickets left) from the 26th over; Team B then resumes the last innings to chase the target.”
The 46-year-old explained, “If Team A has lost all their wickets within the first 25 overs itself, then Team B gets 50 overs (25 overs plus 25 overs with a break) to chase the target. Now, look at the number of ideas that can be adopted in a format like this.”
Besides removing the toss factor, Sachin also feels that the format could help tackle dew as both sides would have to face the wrath of it in this format, unlike the current model, which sees all the misery being piled on the team bowling second.
He concluded by saying, “There’s always a chance to come back into the game. In a regular 50-over format, if a side wins toss and there’s dew, the side bowling second has no chance. The wet ball just skids on to the bat and it’s never a fair battle.”
