'It will make the bowlers sharpen up'

New no-ball rule makes Franklin stop and think

Cricinfo staff

July 2, 2007

James Franklin will cause himself plenty of grief if he bowls no-balls after October 1 © Getty Images

James Franklin believes bowlers will be more careful not to concede no-balls when the new ODI playing conditions come into effect from October 1. The changed rules mean front-foot no-balls will be penalised with a free hit from the following delivery.

That is bad news for repeat offenders like Franklin, who bowled 13 no-balls from seven matches in the CB Series in Australia and 13 from nine games at the World Cup. He especially struggled at Grenada in the Super Eights match against Australia, when his eight overs included five no-balls.

Franklin said on such occasions he usually tried first to regain his rhythm rather than moving his marker, however he will now need to take more care when marking out his run-up. "I've been guilty of bowling them now and again but you are always looking to eliminate them, and it is even more food for thought now with the free hit on offer," Franklin told The Dominion Post. "It will make the bowlers sharpen up because the penalty is a pain in the backside for bowlers, captains and the team."

The new law was one of several alterations to ODI playing conditions decided at the ICC's annual conference last week. Another modification was that there will now be a mandatory change of ball after 35 overs of each innings and the replacement will be a clean used ball. Franklin said that was a good idea and would mean reverse-swing did not become an issue in the final overs.

"It was quite apparent at the World Cup that at 40 overs most batsmen out there would say 'umps, I'm not picking the ball too well' and they would change it straight away," Franklin said. "That is why we didn't see as much reverse swing at the World Cup as we have in the past."

Other changes will mean an additional fielder can be outside the circle during the second or third powerplay, and if an innings is reduced the number of overs making up each powerplay will be reduced proportionately. Additionally, the minimum boundary sizes in all international matches will be increased by ten yards for the square boundaries and five yards at each end.

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