Andy Roberts voices concerns over bowlers' plight in modern-day cricket

Former West Indies pace-bowling great, Andy Roberts, has recently voiced his concerns for bowlers in modern-day cricket. He highlighted the narrow margin for error encountered by bowlers, emphasising the stringent parameters defining wides and no-balls. 

He further called for a fairer balance in the Impact Player rule in IPL, indicating that the current setup overwhelmingly favours batters. He also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene and make modifications to address the imbalance. It is worth noting that his comments came after Virat Kohli's unfortunate dismissal during the IPL 2024 clash between RCB and KKR on April 21.

“One inch down the leg side, it’s a wide; one inch above the head it’s a no-ball. So, they know where all the balls are going. Once you know where the ball is heading, you prepare for that shot. I don’t know what I would do if I were playing today. You have less than two feet to make an error. They need to make the rules a bit fairer. Everything is made for batting. ICC needs to step in and make a few changes,” Roberts told 'Indian Sports Fans’ founder Sunil Yash Kalra in a live Tv show on India News. 

Also read: IPL 2024: KKR vs RCB, Match 36 - Here's why Virat Kohli's dismissal was deemed correct

Here is how cricket is tilting towards the batters

The Impact Player rule in IPL has been condemned by many, with critics significantly highlighting its limitations on the role of all-rounders within teams. Recently, India captain and Mumbai Indians batter Rohit Sharma and star pacer Mohammed Siraj, have voiced significant reservations regarding this rule.

Also read: 'Are you legalizing a beamer?' - Navjot Sidhu calls for change in rules after Virat Kohli's controversial dismissal in IPL 2024

It is worth noting that with the IPL's impact sub-rule, the teams have surpassed the 250-run mark in several games. Apart from this concern, the introduction of two new balls in limited-overs cricket has posed challenges for bowlers, as the ball doesn't age sufficiently for reverse swing.