India head coach, Rahul Dravid has recently talked about the decline of part-time bowlers in international cricket.
He feels that the new rules and regulations have made the job of part-time bowlers pretty tough these days.
Since 2015, there has been a rule change that states that during the 11th and 40th over, there should be a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle.
Previously, the rule allowed five fielders outside the circle and this allowed the part-timers to bowl tight during the middle phase of the game.
I think it could be because of the rule change. Suddenly you have gone from four fielders inside the ring to five fielders inside the ring. I think that has drastically changed the ability of part-time bowlers to be able to bowl in the middle phase.
Dravid reminiscences his playing days; says the role of two new balls has also affected part-timers
Commenting further, Dravid has also stated that during his playing days, five fielders used to man outside the 30-yard circle and it gave the part-timers enough cushioning effect.
If you remember and mention all these names (Sachin, Sourav, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Raina) bowling in this phase, a lot of guys started when there used to be only four fielders in the ring.
He also feels that the two-new ball factor has also led to a decline in the role of part-timers and says that it has become extremely challenging for them to bowl during middle overs.
Furthermore, he also says that it is not that the part-timers don’t want to bowl, it’s just that the pressure of rules is too much on them.
Partly, it is because of two new balls, you have got five fielders in the ring in the middle overs. It’s not that they are not bowling in the nets, a lot of bowlers do try, they bowl in the nets. But if you don’t get opportunities to bowl in the middle then it becomes very difficult to develop your skill.
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