After the 20-20 euphoria, the Australian apocalypse, looks like Indian cricket team can do well only in shorter versions of the game. But empirically, India had only being good at any game until the opposition learns the new game(Remember hockey, we were the stalwarts until people around learned it). So our honeymoon in 20-20 is bound to last only till Aussies, Proteas and Paks gets accustomed with the game. Ergo, I believe we should start thinking about a newer version of cricket which will keep them boggled for a few more months, so that we can keep up the euphoria. It is when I thought in this direction that the idea of 10-10 cricket came knocking to me. 10-10 will abide with the following protocol:
1. Each team of 11 players will get 10 overs each.
2. Out of the 11 players only 6 of them can bat and have only 5 wickets in hand. The remaining 5 players who have not batted can bowl along with the player who remains not out during the innings. If a team bowls first and uses 6 bowlers, then one of the bowlers should remain not out by the end of the match, failing which 20 runs will be deduced from the total score of the team. Maximum number of overs any bowler can bowl is 2.
3. All the usual ways of getting out are also applicable in 10-10.
4. A batsman will be given only 1.5 minutes to reach the crease. Failing which he will be given time-out.
5. I think the 10-10 model will be blitz with the batsmen going for big hits in every possible opportunity. So to reduce the plight of the bowlers, a new way of getting out have been added which is called strike rate out. A batsman can stay in crease only if he has a strike rate of 150 after the 30th ball he has faced. If the strike rate is lesser than 150, the umpire will adjudge him strike rate out.
6.The wicket keeper is allowed to bowl under the condition that nobody else should guard the stumps when he is bowling.
7. To win a match the chasing team has to score runs decided by the following equation:
R1 = (Score of the 1st batting team) + (Net run-rate of the 1st batting team)*(Difference in number of wickets lost between chasing team and 1st batting team)
Similarly to win a match the 1st batting team has to get the chasing team restricted to a score less than:
R2 = (Score of the 1st batting team) - (Net run-rate of the 1st batting team)*(Difference in number of wickets lost between chasing team and 1st batting team)
If the chasing team ends the match with a score between R1 and R2, the match goes into bowl-out.
8. During bowl out, each team will be given 3 opportunity to castle the stumps similar to the stump out in 20-20. But it is not the bowler who is supposed to castle the stumps in 10-10. Instead the captains has to choose 3 fielders who will have to castle the stumps from pre-designated points on the field. If a result does not come from bowl out, the game goes into sudden death where each team is given 1 opportunity each to hit the stumps alternatively till the result is out.
This is 10-10 rules for you guys. I want you all to read through this and give me the flaws in this protocol so that we can have a fool-proof stuff. Addition into the rule book is also welcome.
