A controversial 10-ball over may still be included in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new ‘Hundred’ competition – despite evident opposition from players.
Professional Cricketers’ Association chairman Daryl Mitchell has warned of significant disquiet among members over proposals that, in order to complete a 100-ball allocation when the tournament gets under way in 2020, one over will consist of 10 deliveries.
The Press Association reported that there is no ECB agreement that the 10-ball over will have to be scrapped from ongoing plans for the high-profile eight-team franchise league.
Discussions are ongoing between all parties, and the likelihood is that no official new developments will be announced by the ECB until this autumn or early winter.
Some critics have derided the 10-ball over as a gimmick.
Worcestershire opener Mitchell told the Daily Mail: “There’s certainly strong opinion among the players that there shouldn’t be a 10-ball over.
“People who are going to bowl at ‘the death’ are concerned about that, because of the physical demands and mental well-being.
So the PCA are against the 10 ball over because of workload but they are fine with 2 t20 competitions going on at the same time. If a bowler can’t bowl 10 balls in a row then they probably shouldn’t be playing cricket. Be against it because it’s a gimmick not because of workload
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) June 27, 2018
“I don’t think it would be possible to ask, say (Sussex fast bowler) Tymal Mills, to bowl a 10-ball over at 92-93 miles per hour, especially if you throw in the odd wide or no ball.
“Then it becomes 12 or 13 balls, and I don’t think that’s good for the game as well as the bowler.
“You want the genuine quick bowlers to come steaming in because that’s what people want to see, and six balls is enough for them.”
Mitchell hopes the ECB will take on board the opinions of players, some of whom are less entrenched against the ‘Hundred’ format than they were at first – notwithstanding the consensus against a 10-ball over.
He added: “It’s very difficult for us to say whether we like the idea or not when we still don’t know what it’s going to look like.
“The momentum is turning in a positive direction, but there are very much a number of sceptics among our members too.
“The new competition needs us on board, because it needs to fly and do very well.”
England fast bowler Mark Wood spoke this week about the franchise tournament – and although he is open to suggestion, he too has qualms about bowling 10 balls without a break. “Personally I’m not a massive fan of that,” he said.
“I’d give it a good go – but to think you could go for 60 in 10 balls! Especially if the first two balls go for six, you’ll be thinking, ‘Oh no, I’ve got eight balls to go here’ … so it’s not going to be the best.
“It’s not the physicality, it’s more the mental state of getting hit for a couple of sixes early doors and then you think, ‘Oh no here we go’. But if it is a 10-ball over then it could change the game dramatically, couldn’t it?”
