Home advantage; bat size under ICC panel scanner

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Home advantage; bat size under ICC panel scanner
Indian craftsmen make cricket bats at a workshop in Sangam,south of Srinagar.

London - India manipulated conditions to thump South Africa 3-0 last year amid dissatisfaction over the nature of the turning tracks

By Reuters

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Published: Fri 3 Jun 2016, 10:25 PM

Last updated: Sat 4 Jun 2016, 12:48 AM

Test teams are excessively exploiting 'home advantage' by preparing pitches that favour the strengths of the host nation, an International Cricket Council (ICC) panel representing various stakeholders within the sport said on Friday.
India manipulated conditions to thump South Africa 3-0 last year amid dissatisfaction over the nature of the turning tracks used in the series, including the strip in Nagpur which was rated 'poor' by match referee Jeff Crowe.
The ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former India captain Anil Kumble, is unhappy with the quality of Test pitches "and in particular the common practice of home countries overtly preparing surfaces to suit their own teams".
The panel was also worried about the growing imbalance between bat and ball and has requested the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the game's laws, to curb the use of oversized bats.
"The Committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger 'sweet-spots'.
Thursday's statement from the ICC cricket committee, whose members include several former Test batsmen in England's Andrew Strauss, India's Rahul Dravid and Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, said: "MCC sought the committee's guidance on the desirability of making changes in order to redress the balance between bat and ball.
"The committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger 'sweet-spots'."


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