A 3-match ODI series is going on between India and England. This series stands at 1-1. The third and deciding match of the series is to be played at Lord’s on Sunday (July 19). The first two matches of this series have been low-scoring. In the first match played in Birmingham, India won by 6 wickets by bowling out England for 258 runs, while the host team achieved parity in the series by bowling out Team India for 233 runs in Cardiff.
The bowlers have dominated in both these matches. Despite dismissing England cheaply in Birmingham, the Indian team was stuck in the run chase. He had lost 4 wickets for 160 runs. Captain Shubman Gill retired and went out hurt. In such a situation, India’s score was 160/5. Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar made a century partnership for the sixth wicket and took Team India to the threshold of victory.
The run chasing team also faced difficulties in the second ODI played in Cardiff. England lost 6 wickets for 125 runs in reply to India’s 234 runs. Victory seemed far away but Joe Root took charge from one end and brought his team level in the series. Joe Root remained unbeaten after scoring 99 runs. He told during his innings that now work cannot be done by just hitting in ODI cricket.
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ODI cricket has changed
In the last few years, bowlers have been getting badly beaten in ODIs as well as in T20s. But now due to the new rules, there are restrictions on the batsmen. Especially in ODI matches, we will not see the kind of batting in overs that we have been seeing for years. Actually, ICC has changed the rule of two new balls. Earlier, one new ball was used from both ends in every innings.
According to the new rule, two new balls are being used from the beginning of the innings till the 34th over but after that the game is being played with the same ball till the 50th over. The bowling team is choosing one of two balls after the 34th over, which is being used from both ends from the 35th over to the 50th over. This rule is in force since July last year. Batting has become difficult due to the last 15 overs being played with a single ball.
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Importance of batsmen like Root and Rahul increased
With the abolition of the two new balls rule, the importance of batsmen with complete technique like Joe Root and KL Rahul has increased. Now swinging the bat blindly in the last overs in ODI is not going to work. Fast bowlers have also started getting reverse swing in the death overs, which only batsmen like Root and Rahul can deal with. This is the reason why the Indian team wants to use Rahul more in the death overs only.
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