Fifty over cricket was primarily invented to bring in the spectators who were deserting Test cricket, because the established game was beginning to be a bore.

Test cricket was a big yawn because the action dished out during the five days was unattractive with most games ending in stalemates with the contesting teams not showing any urge to play attractive and forceful cricket that spectators yearn for.

When it was first introduced, 50 over cricket was the thing and spectators began to flock to the venues because the action was terrific and in the process the players, the Cricket Boards and the organisers were filling in their coffers.

Then business tycoon the late Kerry Packer surprised all cricket boards when he set in motion his now famous and eagerly looked forward to night cricket.

That was a Packer innovation to spite Cricket Australia with whom he had an axe to grind because his Channel Nine was refused telecasting rights of Australia cricket.

The cream of cricketers joined the Packer bandwagon and then began to roll the Packer circus that also saw the cricketers who joined Packer earning hitherto unearned sums of money.

With most countries losing their stars, Cricket Australia had to go on bended knees to Packer and by granting Packer the rights to telecast the game the dust settled and everyone was happy.

But the night cricket that Packer had introduced has come to stay and it will remain that way till the end of time.

Many innovations
With this style of game gaining momentum lords of the game introduced new laws and also new gimmicks to make the game more interesting to the players and the spectators.

Firstly the run ups of the pacemen were curtailed. Then fielders inside the ring and outside were limited within the first ten and fifteen overs, then came the Duckworthy/Lewis system to decide on a result when rain intervenes and the free hit off a no ball.

Then came the power play for the bowling side and the latest gimmick is the power play awarded to the fielding side. While all that was good and appreciated what is evoking laughter and making a mockery of the game is when power plays are allowed when it becomes an overs reduced game due to rain.

The other day we were watching the third one-day action unfolding on Star Sports between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Harare and could not but laugh our sides out at the powerplay rule which allowed just two overs. Usually it is five overs.

When this game was reduced to 26 overs a side, it should have been 26 overs a side hit, with to hell with the powerplays, which to say the least was a mockery. What powerplay when the overs are reduced?

Zimbabwe(no)we back to big time
While it is admirable and commendable the attempts by the International Cricket Council's attempts to diversify and broadbase the game, when doing so they must do so with a lot of thought instead of just rushing things.

It was well and good to introduce Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to the big league. But the ICC should have made it their business to see to the growth, development and progress of cricket in those two countries.

If what we are seeing of Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh against South Africa, then the game does not seem to have a future for them. And to make matters worse the Indian Premier League and the Indian Cricket League is beginning to further kill their cricket, especially Bangladesh.

The two leagues are also a big worry to most cricket boards with the players more keen to play in the league and not represent their countries. That is understood because the two leagues are offering money, and big money at that and some leading players are willing to quit playing for their countries and concentrate on the two leagues.

The only way out for the ICC whether they like it or not is to recognise both leagues. Why the ICC is delaying recognising the IPL is just inexplicable.

No improvement
The ICC had sent a three-member committee to see how things go in the cricket scene in Zimbabwe, and make a report whether they should be in the wilderness in Test cricket or be admitted to the big league again.

I can't see the committee recommending that the Zimbabweans be re-admitted. Watching them against Sri Lanka in the one-dayers and the slaughter that is taking place, it would not be long before they are banished from the cowboy game too.

Everything is in turmoil in Zimland. In addition to the uneasiness in the game's administration and the game itself, their infrastructure is also poor with only two venues, one in Harare and the other in Bulawayo capable of conducting cricket.

Brett Lee 300 wicket club
Brett Lee the Australian 'blond bomber' who bowls tremendous pace joined the band of 300 wicket takers when he had Jimmy how brilliantly taken by skipper Ricky Ponting in the slips in the Kiwis second innings.

With the agencies boycotting reporting the Australia - New Zealand Test series Lee's tremendous effort did not receive the desired publicity and it was a pity that it went unnoticed.

Lee has been a great asset to Australian cricket and has given nothing but his best when handed the new ball. He has tremendous pace, able to get the ball to lift off a disconcerting length, has the ability to move the ball both ways and packs a life threatening bouncer.

The fast bowlers run in fast for a number of overs and rarely do fast bowler pocket three hundred wickets in the big league considering that they have to bowl at the best of batsmen. Lee's effort deserves to be recognised and honoured.

Imagine that William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) lived today and wrote the Comedy of Errors, or of Love’s labour lost; the cricketing world may have thought that the English bard derived his inspiration from the situation Sri Lanka cricket is currently placed. For, how else can the absurd position Sri Lanka’s cricket is placed today be described, than with such words of that English playwright?

Other leading test cricket playing nations clamour to play more test matches, test series and one day matches with the top-of-the-table rankers; Sri Lanka’s international itinerary for 2008 and 2009 is the other way around; few matches and with minions like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and preference to play in the Indian League because it affords her players more money.

Besides, Sri Lanka’s cricketing coffers are going the way of her financial system: bankrupt and dependent.

When Sri Lanka pulling out of the England tour of May 2009, just a month ago, only a few like Ian Botham spoke out stoutly against the island nation. Others did not even bother; Sri Lanka’s irrational reputation is well known. Had Australia or England done the like, the rest of the world would have asked them to withdraw from international cricket.

Sri Lanka was scheduled to play two test matches and three ODIs with England. The nation pulled out, because 13 of her players had contracted with the Indian League. India then promised to help bring the island nation out of the woods, with a financial grant. Now, Sri Lanka’s cricketing hierarch, Arjuna Ranatunga said that he has no faith in the Indian Cricket League.

No intelligent policy
To begin with, Sri Lanka must go the way of the rest of the cricketing world and hold elections to choose who will head Sri Lanka Cricket; appointee is a bad word. Then, foreign commentators will not be able to criticise Sri Lanka’s policy towards cricket administration on her soil for the rest of the world to know. Then, Arjuna Ranatunga would not be saying that Sri Lanka must play international matches and not Indian League. Then, people who placed him in his position will not decide that a commitment to the Indian cricketing carnival must be honoured, and not a contracted tour with England.

Consider Sri Lanka’s 2008/09 itinerary –
January 2008 tour of Australia: Played two test matches with Australia and lost the series. Tri nation series between Australia, India and Sri Lanka, which Sri Lanka lost.

March 2008 tour of the West Indies: Played three tests and won one, the first time Sri Lanka won a test match with the Windies in the Caribbean and lost one. Sri Lanka played five ODI and won.
July 2008 India and Sri Lanka, at home: Three tests, won two and lost one. Five ODIs, India won three and Sri Lanka two.
Now the Sri Lanka team is in Zimbabwe. So far, played four ODIs of five to be played and won all.

In December 2008, Sri Lanka will play two tests with Bangladesh and three ODIs, in Bangladesh. The point is that many in the cricketing world think Bangladesh and Zimbabwe should not be playing test cricket.

Now, Sri Lanka’s critics have fertile ground to say that the island’s bowlers, especially Muttiah Muralitharan, take most wickets with teams who should not enjoy test status.

May 2009 tour of England cancelled, where Sri Lanka was to play two tests and three ODI. First, it was Zimbabwe who was to play England in the early part of May and then the mantle fell on Sri Lanka. Now, the West Indies will fill in the void.
In July ’09 three tests and five ODIs between Pakistan and Sri Lanka — in Sri Lanka.
In August ’09 Sri Lanka is expected to play 3 tests and five ODIs with New Zealand in Sri Lanka.

November ’09 Sri Lanka is expected to play India, three tests and three ODIs in India.
The success of any nation in any sport is judged by the performance of the nation against other nations, not how much their players earn by way of playing for clubs outside their boarders. In the instance of international soccer, Brazilian, Argentinean, German or English players are not allowed to play for clubs and neglect their duties to represent their nations. Clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United who draw players from all parts of the world are far better known than the Indian League clubs and the monies they draw are far more.

If this situation continues, our bowlers and batsmen will not have the chance, or the liking of competing with other bowlers and batsmen for top of the world ranks. In time, we will be like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.