Be Ahead of the Game: Learn New ODI Rules Now
The new ODI laws will continue to encourage players and coaches to develop new methods and shots to optimise scoring possibilities in the outer areas of the cricket field.
When the changes come into to your level, you're going to have worked on them already.
Here are some of the boundary fielding options for seamers and the options available to batters:
Deep Third Man, Deep Fine Leg, Deep Square, Deep Cover - Bouncy Pitches
The bowler is going to use the 2 bouncers per over often and predominantly hit back of a length using his squarer fielders as run savers and potential wicket takers.
The backloading technique where a batter steps back in the crease early thus loading the back leg to move forward and take the bouncing ball - between top of the stumps and chin - up and over the straight mid-wicket man into acres of unguarded space.
To counteract the extra bouncer, players will start to practice the ramp shot over the keeper to eliminate the catching threat of Third man and Fine Leg.
Sachin Tendulkar has mastered this shot by flexing his knees, keeping his head as close to the ball as possible and let the ball run along the face of the bat and using the pace of the delivery to clear the batter.
Deep Mid On, Deep Square Leg, Deep Third Man, Deep Cover - Flatter Wickets
The stumps are bought into play more often on lower bouncing wickets and the backloading technique works to strike up and through the ball into the vacant deep mid wicket area once more.
Players who play this shot well keep their hands low during the backswing and swing flat across the line of the ball to maintain the bat on the height of the ball for as long as possible. The player presses the ball over the straight mid-wicket with a slog sweep kind of shot.
Ross Taylor is a fantastic exponent of the shot.
We have seen Joss Buttler master the flip over short fine leg by getting inside the line of the ball and low prior to ball release, he retains a still head as most of his movement has been made ahead of ball release and uses the pace of the ball to scoop it up over the man who has been forced into the circle as a result of strong shots down the ground earlier in the innings.
Joss also has the option of playing a hitting option if the bowler chooses a slower ball option.
Because you are still at ball release, the batter can adjust the swing of the bat to counteract the pace being taken off the ball and the shot is aimed 20 yards behind square with the spin and angle taking it away from the deep square leg.
In extreme situations, a captain may choose to have third man and fine leg both up in the circle.
The flip shot can also be played inside and over the short third man. Again, being still is vital and if there is pace on the ball then the bat face is applied to the ball and the ball does the work to either be run between the keeper and Third Man or over the Third Man.
The advent of the Switch Hit has made it acceptable to swing a slower ball over that man too.
The top players in the world will be practicing these options - how long will it take the club coaches to start building these options into their programmes to prepare their players to the new Limited overs Rules?
They will hit club, school and Academy cricket soon. Will we be ready?
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