NEW DELHI: The world's premier off-spinner,
Ravichandran Ashwin
, expressed concern on Saturday that the tendency toward extreme power-hitting in modern batting is gradually making the size of cricket stadiums unimportant. He stated that he fears this might make the game more one-sided.
Ashwin's remarks were made in light of the unbelievable totals that teams in this year's IPL are setting.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad posted totals of 277 and 287 while scores of 250 have been surpassed by teams this season with liberal help from the extra batter in the form of Impact Substitutions.
"The stadiums built back in the day are not relevant in the modern day. The bats that were used back then were also used for gully cricket. With LED boards of the sponsors being used, the boundary has come in by 10 yards,"
Ashwin
, one of the leading voices in global cricket, said during a promotional event for his IPL team Rajasthan Royals.
Ashwin believes that if the current pattern persists, the game will eventually become extremely biased.
"It is tilting too far on other side, which will make someone's misery your great time. Bowlers will need mental boost," the straight-talker said.
But Ashwin is equally adamant that a talented bowler will establish himself and differentiate himself from the rest of the field with his inventions.
"Game shifts balance and you have to find answers. There's clear window to differentiate yourself," Ashwin said.
Though he continues to be amazed by the batsmen's ability to hit the ball, he is pleased that the bowling attack of the Rajasthan Royals has not suffered as much as that of some of the other teams.
"If you look at the Industrial rate (average runs conceded by teams in IPL), we have gone for less. We defended 180 in Jaipur in one game which was huge," he said
"But you are certainly marvelled at ball-striking. At the end of the day spectators come to watch fours and sixes," said India's second highest wicket-taker in Tests.
Ashwin, who has a keen sense of humor, had a funny season-long take on the size of the stadiums.
"The ground in Jaipur, the boundary is huge. When I saw that,
Dhruv Jurel
said: "Bhaiyya this is so big" and I told him "Dhruv, atleast let it be somewhere". Watching that, I felt at this stage of my career, I would need a bicycle to reach the (Sawai Man Singh) boundary.
"Then in the next stadium, I felt I could walk and the next I could run and then in one I felt if I spit my Chewing gum, it will cross the boundary rope for a six," said Ashwin.
The Royals' bowling coach
Shane Bond
summed it up aptly.
"For bowlers now, if you can bowl well, you can make a lot of money. Batting has evolved and bowling is catching up," the former New Zealand speedster said.
(With PTI inputs)
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