BY ANDREW DOUGLAS

Significant rule changes to the Australian domestic one-day cricket format will see teams in a faster and less predictable competition this season.

The Ryobi One-Day Cup series started on October 6 with a host of changes to reinvigorate the game.

The main rule change involves the batting team having 45 overs split into two innings, one of 20 and another of 25.

ON THE ATTACK: New rules aim to fill WACA seats next time Western Warriors all-rounder Matthew Johnston plays.

Teams will be able select 12 players to use during a game with bowlers able to bowl 12 overs each instead of 10.

The Western Australian Cricket Association operations manager Andrew Scotford said the changes would help liven up one-day cricket.

“We’re looking forward to see how the new format will work,” he said.

“This is another opportunity to highlight the aspects of the game the public enjoy.”

The main focus of the format change is to refresh the one-day format for a changing Australian public.

Cricket Australia did an extensive survey of cricket fans and consulted with players to investigate whether the one-day format needed changing.

The survey showed one-day cricket was still the Australian public’s favourite format of cricket but it needed changing because of the emergence of the Twenty20 format.

Fans wanted a faster game with more strategy and less predictability.

Split innings would remove the predictable middle overs associated with the old 50-over format.

“I think the new rule changes will highlight the areas of the game that are interesting for the public and being able to play day/night games this season will mean more people can come along and watch,” Mr Scotford said.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association communications manager Eivion Bowen said it would be interesting to see whether players would adapt to the new rules.

“Players are supportive of the change generally to the one-day format and are trialling these changes this season in good faith,” Mr Bowen said.

“We will continue to monitor the feedback from a player’s perspective although generally it’s too early to establish any particular position.”

Mr Scotford said teams were willing to try the new format to better the game.

“The format change is giving [teams] an opportunity to see how the game is going halfway through and change [their] tactics accordingly,” he said.

“This format offers a new way to see the game and we are still curious to see how it will all end up.”

The Warriors played their third Ryobi Cup game on Saturday against Victoria.

Published in the Western Independent October 2010