By CricketCountry Staff
Rahul Dravid who delivered the Sir Donald Bradman Oration at the Australian War Memorial on Wednesday emphasised the need on careful planning of all three formats of the game.
Published: Dec 14, 2011, 04:32 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 14, 2011, 04:32 PM (IST)
Indian batsman Rahul Dravid feels ICC needs to devise rankings around crucial ODI tournaments played between the World Cups © AFP
By CricketCountry Staff
Melbourne: Dec 14, 2011
Rahul Dravid who delivered the Sir Donald Bradman Oration at the Australian War Memorial on Wednesday emphasised the need on careful planning of all three formats of the game.
Indian batsman made few recommendations in the interest of the game which include ODI rankings, exploring day-night cricket, Test Championships.
Dravid expressed his disappointment at the dwindling crowds around the world, especially longer format of the game. He felt these are the underlying signs that need to be picked.
Here are some of the recommendations that the Indian batsman made
“I don’t think day-night Tests or a Test championship should be dismissed. In March of last year I played a day-night first-class game in Abu Dhabi for the MCC – and my experience from that was that day-night Tests is an idea seriously worth exploring.
“There may be some challenges in places where there is dew but the visibility and durability of the pink cricket ball was not an issue.
“Similarly, a Test championship with every team and player driving themselves to be winners of a sought after title seems like it would have a context to every game.
“Keeping Test’s alive, may mean different innovations in different countries – maybe taking it to smaller cities, playing it in grounds with smaller capacities like New Zealand has thought of doing, maybe reviving some old venues in the West Indies, like the old Recreation Ground in Antigua.”
“We have Test cricket like we have always had, nation versus nation, but carefully scheduled to attract crowds and planned fairly so that every Test playing country get its fair share of Tests and playing for a championship or a cup not just a ranking .”
The former Indian captain emphasised on having a more planned schedule for the 50-over format. He said,” The 50-overs format focussed around on fewer and important multi-nation ICC events like the Champions trophy and the World cup.
“In the four-year cycle between World Cups, plan the ODI calendar and devise rankings around these few important events. Anything makes more sense than 7-match ODI series.”
Dravid also had few recommendations on T20 format too. He said,” The best role for Twenty20 is as a domestic competition through official leagues which will make it financially attractive for cricketers.
“That could also keep cricket viable in countries where it fights for space and attention. Because the game is bigger than us all, we must think way ahead of how it stands today.”
Click here to read full transcript of Rahul Dravid’s Sir Don Bradman Oration
