Ten overs can be altered in middle to make ODI cricket more interesting: Adam Zampa

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has suggested a bold move in order to make ODI cricket more interesting. The 30-year-old has asked the authorities to consider his plans and scrap ten overs in the middle and also asked them to introduce new directives to make the format appealing to all the fans.

Zampa is not the first cricketer to suggest his opinion about the longest format of white-ball cricket. After Ben Stokes’ sudden retirement from the 50-over format, a lot of experts and cricketers asked ICC to consider changes in the format. Notably, the format already changed its course in 1987 when ICC introduced a new rule which stated that the matches going forward will be of 50-overs and not 60-overs. 

“There's about ten overs in the middle that need to be scrapped or something needs to be done with them, something a bit more exciting or in between overs 20 and 30, there could be bonuses or extra free hits, or something like that, make it a bit more interesting,” Zampa told ABC Sports.

I like ODI cricket, it is just enough time to do enough: Ashton Agar

Even though Adam Zampa wants to shorten the format, his national teammate Ashton Agar is completely against the idea. He believes that the format provides enough chances to all the cricketers and especially if there are few early dismissals.

“I like ODI cricket, it is just enough time to do enough. You know, ten overs [per bowler] is a lovely amount of bowling time. Fifty overs is a good time to bat, like it gives the guys lower down the order a bit of time if there's a few wickets that have fallen. Yes, I think people get frustrated at, maybe it gets a bit too long, but I think that's just because of the advent of T20 cricket. So, I like ODI cricket,” the 28-year-old added.

One of the legends of Australian cricket, Nathan Lyon also joined the conversation. Even though he didn’t share his input regarding the length of the format, he asked ICC to consider changes in their two new-ball rule. It allows the bowlers to start with two new balls from each end and thus, reverse swing becomes a myth in ODI cricket. This is one rule change Lyon asked the governing body to consider going forward.

“One ball from one end, or both ends, stop giving the batters a new ball to hit. It's only 25 overs old, it's still hard, I'd like to see... bring reverse swing back, bring spin back into it,” the 34-year-old said.