Cricket is only becoming complicated because we continue to change rules: Sachin Tendulkar

Ahead of his 50th birthday, legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar opened up on the flaws of the game, especially stressing on the multiple rule changes that took place in the last couple of years. Notably, bowlers are not allowed to use saliva to shine the ball anymore, while starting with two new balls in ODI cricket has largely reduced the scope of reverse swing.

Speaking about all these issues, the maestro stated that the game is becoming complicated with each passing day because the rules are changing with time. He also opened up on the infamous ‘umpire's call’ rule and stated that he fails to understand the motive behind this as the batter or the bowler sends a clear-cut indication that he/she is unhappy with the decision of the on-field umpires.

“It’s (cricket) only becoming complicated because we continue to change rules, if we have a set of rules and if we stick to those rules, if they’re working well, then it won’t be that complicated. To be fair, we also have three different formats, there are not many sports where you have different formats, I can’t think of anything else, very few if at all,” Sachin was quoted as saying by News18.

“I fail to understand honestly what they’re thinking. I feel if a ball is hitting any part of the stump, it’s out. That is for both teams, it’s not like for ‘team A’ you’re using technology and for ‘team B’, you’re leaving it to the on-field umpire. Once we go to the third umpire, it’s a clear-cut indication to me that somebody on the field is unhappy with that decision and doesn’t agree with the decision. That’s why they want to go upstairs, so why come back to the person whom they don’t trust?"

Interestingly enough, the Master Blaster compared the situation with tea and coffee, iterating that it is like mixing tea and coffee when it comes to referring on-field umpire's decision and challenging it by seeking help from the Third Umpire to rule the final verdict of a possibly controversial decision or unclear decision for that matter. So he felt it was not logical to come back to the on-field umpire to give the final verdict, especially in terms of the umpire's call situation where the Decision Review System (DRS) comes into play.

"That’s why they’ve gone up, they’ve taken the risk of challenging his decision and if they don’t get it right they lose their review. So why do we come back again, we don’t need to come back. Right now what’s happening is in the same cup ‘Thoda chai daal do and thoda coffee bhi daal do‘. For me, it doesn’t work,” the former cricketer stated when asked about the umpire’s call rule.

Tendulkar agrees with the 'No change of strikes' rule during a catch

The former cricketer also mentioned that he was happy with this particular rule where the batters are not allowed to change their strikes during a catch. Citing an example of the West Indian big-hitter Kieron Pollard, Sachin explained why this has been a good move going forward.

“Yeah, I agree with that. I agree with that because if a number 10 is batting and I’ve got a big hitter at the non-striker’s end, I’m just naming Pollard, if Pollard is there at the non-striker’s end, why should Pollard go and face the next ball in spite of a bowler picking a wicket? So that is a good introduction,” he added.