What will it take to make rules that govern the thickness of the bat?
What characterises modern-day cricket? Obviously, it’s the fast-paced Twenty 20 cricket. But, what has taken the game by storm is the increased thickness in bats. It does not take the eyesight of an eagle to know that. Now, me primarily being a bowler, I find it hard to balance between sympathising with the bowlers and being angry on this trend. Everyone likes a run feast; no one likes a low-scoring encounter. Fans are not yet ready to embrace the fact that even matches where bowlers prevail can be as intriguing.
If I take the “angry-bowler” approach, I’ll probably do more harm to this piece than good. So, let me take the “concerned-fan” approach. What does this type of bat actually mean in the cricketing sense? The competition between bat and ball is not balanced at all. Top-edges are flying over the boundaries, edges are flying over the keeper’s head for sixes, pushing at the ball yields a four and more importantly, even lack of timing fetches runs.
ICC has rules regarding the length and width of a cricket bat. “The length of the bat may be no more than 38 inches (965 mm) and the width no more than 4.25 inches (108 mm)” is what the rule states. However, there exists not even a single rule that regulates the thickness of the bats. Conventionally, dimensions of the bat have always been considered as 2-Dimensional. Thickness is given that much of a look at. But, isn’t the bat 3-Dimensional! Not long ago, a 14-member panel of ex-cricketers was formed to decide if there should be any rule; they decided against initiating a rule that governs the thickness of the bats.
Statements have been made. Reasons have been mentioned. Justifications have been given. The batsman who use such bats claim to use it to counter-attack spin. This is where I find it hard to control my “angry-bowler” side. Statements like “Muscles win you matches” are made by top-level players. Personally, I find these to be some justifications given by players to themselves for using such kind of bats and not feeling guilty. “Reasons are not needed, man. You want to use such a bat, USE! Do not give any justifications!” It is simply horrifying that cricket has reached such a stage.
There is also a certain level of irony in all this. There are many rules that maintains the limitations in bowling. Bending of arm is not allowed beyond 15º, otherwise the bowler is reported for CHUCKING. Running a non-striker out before completing the delivery is considered against the ‘spirit of cricket’ and bowlers who practise that are frowned upon. Strangely, it’s called Mankading. Frankly speaking, I have started doubting the meaning of ‘spirit of cricket’. Why isn’t using bats with a hump against the ‘spirit of cricket’? I am not saying that there shouldn’t be rules regarding chucking or Mankading. Just like a bowler’s action is kept in check, a bat’s thickness should also be kept in a check.
Runs were scored before also. Spin was tackled before also. Boundaries were hit before also. It feels like the viewers are being cheated and wrong ‘legends’ are being born. All it’s gonna take is 1 rule. At a time when restoring the balance between bat and ball is the need of the hour, regulating the thickness of the bat is the first step towards achieving it.
