Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Smaller ball, shorter pitch recommended to transform women's game

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Women's Third One Day International - England v New Zealand, The Fischer County Ground, Leicester, Britain - July 13, 2018 New Zeland's Sophie Devine in action Action Images/Jason Cairnduff

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has recommended using a smaller ball to make women's cricket more attractive, while India's Jemimah Rodrigues believes a shorter pitch is another innovation worth exploring.

The ball used in women's cricket is slightly smaller and lighter than the one used in the men's game but Devine favoured "a little trial and error" and see if that worked.

"I think if we are stuck with traditional formats, we'd be missing out on a lot of new players, new kids, new athletes to the game," she said in an innovation webinar organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"I'm probably a big fan of looking at a smaller ball, but keeping the pitch the same size, where I think pacers are going to be able to bowl quicker, spinners are going be able to turn the ball more," the all-rounder added.

Rodrigues saw merit in a shorter pitch to speed up the game and win more fans.

"We can also be open to (a shorter pitch), try it out," said the 19-year-old.

"If that is going to help the game improve and take it to the next level, then why not?"

"We want to get more people to watch the game and more people to even join the game. So, yeah, I think it is a good idea."

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.