India, Australia bemused over implementation of new rules in T20I series
Neither India not Australia were aware that some of the new playing conditions introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) were being implemented during the first Twenty20 international at Ranchi.
india vs australia 2017 Updated: Oct 08, 2017 13:51 IST
Hindustan Times, Mumbai
Both Australia and India were left bemused after some of the new playing conditions implemented by the International Cricket Council (ICC) came into effect during their first T20I at Ranchi on Saturday night.
Aaron Finch revealed in the post-match media conference that Australia were not aware of the new rule which allowed two bowlers to bowl two overs each in case the game is reduced to less than 10 overs.
A long rain interruption towards the end of the first innings meant that under revised playing conditions, Australia had to defend a total of 48 in six overs.
While Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled two overs, debutant Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, Dan Christian and Andrew Tye bowled the remaining four. Australia lost the game by nine wickets via Duckworth-Lewis Method.
The new playing conditions stipulate that if the game is “reduced to less than 10 overs, the maximum quota of overs per bowler shall not be less than two.”
In theory, if the match is reduced to a five-overs-per-side affair, two bowlers can bowl two overs each.
Finch revealed that until the fifth over, Australia were unaware that they had the Decision Review System (DRS) in place. “I didn’t know there was a review system until about the fifth over. Nobody did,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“Steve Smith, when he ran out a drink, mentioned it. So, we had to ask the umpires. But it is quite strange to have a crossover of rules for this series. I mean bat sizes and things like that are coming in at the end of the series.
“It didn’t have any effect on the game. I just thought it was quite odd to have mixed and matched the rules for this series,” he added.
Shikhar Dhawan, who attended the post-match press conference also admitted that there was lack of clarity. “I’m sure they (Australia) would have felt the inconsistency. But whatever is the rule, is the rule.
“I’m not exactly aware of the rule you were talking about. But, it is what it is.”
It was reported earlier that the new playing conditions as per the ICC will not be implemented during India-Australia series because the five-match ODI series was in progress and would have clashed with the date of implementation.
