Game Changer Rules like Power Play, UDRS, Free hit in ODI Cricket!

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This is the time when Test cricket is played like One day cricket and One day cricket is immensely  influenced by Twenty 20 cricket. With the incredible popularity of the Twenty 20 format of the game, it was a great need to make changes in the format of ODI cricket too. The aim before ICC was to make ODI games more exciting and attract more audience towards game. Keeping this in mind, few rules have been modified and introduced in the ODI cricket. Lets see what are the Game Changer Rules in ODI cricket.

1.Power Play:

Earlier there used to be fielding restrictions for the first fifteen overs in an inning, where only 2 fielders could  be outside the 30 yard circle and compulsorily 2 fielders had to be in close catching position. This rule is now modified and it is replaced with Power Plays. Every team is keen to take an advantage of the power plays, where mostly attacking batsmen try to play aggressive shots and score quick runs at lower risk of getting caught out due to the field restrictions. The aim of the fielding side captain is to restrict batting side from scoring quick runs in power play overs. Therefore, fielding captains use their best bowlers in this period. Fielding side has one advantage of getting quick wickets in power plays as batsmen are in attacking mood and while doing so they may loose wickets in this period. For the overs when power play is not opted, maximum five fielders can be outside the 30 yard circle.

Now, there are three types of power plays.

World Cup - the Number Game.

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Hello Friends,

It's a World Cup euphoria every where among cricketing fans and every one is busy in predicting their favorite teams to Win the World Cup 2011. I thought, it will be helpful for you, if you just go through what happened in the past 9 World Cups; and therefore in this article, i am presenting important achievements and statistics related to past World Cups. 

World Cup tournament is the most important cricketing event and it is world's 4th largest and most viewed sporting event. The teams and players who have performed their best in this prestigious tournament are really special ones. Team like Australia who have won the Championship four times, which is an incredible  achievement. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Pointing have consistently played their best cricket in this tournament which makes them greatest players of the game.

The table below provided an overview of the performances of teams over last 9 World Cups.

World Cup 2011 Favorites!

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Hello Friends,

World Cup 2011 - This is 10th World Cup Cricket Tournament in the history of ODI cricket and 14 teams are participating in this event; which comes only ones in Four years. This time, the tournament is been hosted by sub-continent countries viz. India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.

Sub-continent batting pitches are very Flat where batsmen can score lots of runs and you will find good teams scoring near about 300 runs in many matches. Credit goes to Twenty Twenty Cricket as well, as it has improved  pace and style of One day cricket too. Traditionally sub-continent pitches help Spin bowlers rather than pacers. We have already seen that, quality spinners are making a big difference in this tournament.

Now, lets come to the favorites of the tournament to win the World Cup 2011. If you believe in statistics then in the last 5 consecutive  World Cups, a sub-continent team has reached in the World Cup Finals. ( 1992- Pak, 1996- Sri Lanka, 1999- Pak, 2003- India, 2007- Sri Lanka) and out of those 5 finals 2 have been won by a sub-continent country. (1992- Pak, 1996- Sri Lanka), but on the other hand in those 5 World cups, Australians have reached in the finals 4 times (except 1992, all) and have won 3 World cup finals, that too consecutively. Isn't it interesting? Is it something Australians Vs Sub-continent Countries going on for last 2 decades?

As this World Cup is being played on the sub-continent pitches, definitely home teams are having advantage. They are getting utmost Crowd support as well. In such conditions, I guess Australia, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka are the favorites to win World Cup 2011. Lets see why?