Bringing the boundary line in

Ponting said he did not
know whether it was an issue of player safety or a desire to increase the number
of boundaries for crowd entertainment in a one-day contest that had triggered
the decision to reduce ground dimensions.

If I remember correctly, it was brought in to stop the players from injuring themselves when sliding or diving near the fence.

However there is no denying that it has resulted in the current glut of sixes and both the batsmen and the crowd love it.

What do you say?

A pink ball would have helped.

This guy completely misjudges the catch. Result a broken nose.

More news on balls – the pink ones

The colour of balls used in the English one-day game could change from white to pink if trials by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of the laws of cricket, prove successful.

Why are they trying out pink balls?

Mike Gatting, the ECB's managing director of cricket partnerships, said: "We must always push the game forward and ensure we have the right equipment.

"We have tried white and orange balls and perhaps pink ones will last longer.
This is a very interesting and very wise development and a colour may have been
found that is easier on the eye."

The pink balls may be easy on the eye, but will it swing?

Don’t blame the Kookaburra

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is concerned about the lack of swing for bowlers this season.

Like any other manufacturer when doubts are expressed about the quality of their product, Kookaburra managing director Rob Elliot lays the blame on the users (players).

In his defense Elliot said “the mystery of the disappearing swing had nothing to do with the ball, which has remained unchanged since the last tinkering was made after the 1977 Centenary Test.”

He also added that “all balls were the same but given they are made of natural materials, there is always going to be some variation. The perception of players, he said, was the most common reason for discrepancies in reports on degrees of movement.”

To what do you attribute the lack of swing? Is it only the players perception or has it got to do with the quality of the balls?