1 innings a side FC cricket?

[Langeveldt]

Whilst toiling away on BLIC 2005, I wondered if cricket would be any better, or much different if test matches were one innings a side, played over say 3 or 4 days..

Pros
- You'd still have the intensity of a test match, but it would be over more quickly, so you could fit more in in less time
- Fewer drawn games?
- Re arranged days/sessions for the weather
- Easier to follow

Cons
- No comebacks like India v Australia from Calcutta
- Some of the nuances like crumbling fifth day pitches would not feature

Thoughts? Valid ramblings, or the thoughts of a nut-job?

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

I can see the logic, and it would certainly be a good option at lower level FC cricket (South Africa's Provincial Championship, for example), but as you mention there is no chance for a comeback, and if a team got bundled out for next to nothing the game would be over early, so conditions could have a huge impact on the game.

 

[Dravid]

It would be a pretty good idea, but in my opinion the current system is better. Come backs are really important in this game as it gives the team and the players another chance to prove themselves. A player could be dismissed really quick as a result of a bad decision but then has another chance to score runs the next inning in the same match.

If we had only one inning, it could cause problem for the new comers who are trying to prove themselves but fail in the first innning but then end up scoring in the second inning. Sure they could wait for the next match, but for some the selectors might not give another match.

 

[Langeveldt]

It would be a pretty good idea, but in my opinion the current system is better. Come backs are really important in this game as it gives the team and the players another chance to prove themselves. A player could be dismissed really quick as a result of a bad decision but then has another chance to score runs the next inning in the same match.

If we had only one inning, it could cause problem for the new comers who are trying to prove themselves but fail in the first innning but then end up scoring in the second inning. Sure they could wait for the next match, but for some the selectors might not give another match.

Maybe the impetus to produce the goods in one innings might raise the intensity?

 

[benchmark00]

Interesting the idea has come from someone who is so dead against Twenty20 cricket.


Yeah that's right, I went there.

 

[silentstriker]

Maybe the impetus to produce the goods in one innings might raise the intensity?

Yea, just like it does in one day cricket. How much did the WI score earlier today in their first innings?

If the ball is moving a lot on the first day - you pretty much don't even have to bother playing the game, cause whoever bats second will win.

Plus, SPIN BOWLING! I want spinners to come into play in the 4th innings. Otherwise, India wouldn't win a single test match.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

The format of two innings is also something integral to the game of cricket. A century ago, almost all games were played with two innings-a-side, even if it was still a one-day match.

 

[open365]

Yea, just like it does in one day cricket. How much did the WI score earlier today in their first innings?

If the ball is moving a lot on the first day - you pretty much don't even have to bother playing the game, cause whoever bats second will win.

Plus, SPIN BOWLING! I want spinners to come into play in the 4th innings. Otherwise, India wouldn't win a single test match.

I had a feeling you'd say that...

Having one innings a side in FC cricket just wouldn't work.

The spinners would be worse of than they already are, the game could be over far too quickly and there would be no scope for comebacks which is what makes FC cricket so good, there's always a second chance.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

The other issue at hand is the entertainment factor. When there's only two innings per side over four days, on a decent wicket, this can make for some incredibly slow batting when runs are paramount and time isn't an issue. With the decreased entertainment factor, it's increasingly likely that crowds will diminsh and that FC cricket will lose a significant chunk of its hard-won fan base and thus revenue, along with grassroots cricket, will suffer as a result.

Of course, there's the other factors like negating spin bowlers, lack of scope for counter-attacks and a huge advantage to the home side (in that they can pick conditions and take full advantage before the away team has time to adjust). I can't see it being popular.

 

[nightprowler10]

I'm with LHC on this one.

 

[Loots]

I'm a hopeless old traditionalist to be honest, and I just love the two-innings game too much to part with it.

 

[adharcric]

Nice try, bad idea.

 

[Matt79]

You'd also kill off things like (most) declarations, follow-ons etc that we tragics love to obsess about