Bowler 'not a massive fan' of new regulation

Ball switch disrupts Lee's rhythm

Cricinfo staff

October 10, 2007

Eyes on the ball: Brett Lee © AFP

The new one-day rule where the old ball is replaced for the 35th over is not making Brett Lee happy. Lee believes the change to a harder, shiny ball gives batsmen an advantage towards the end of an innings and says he is "not a massive fan" of the ICC regulation.

Previously balls were switched when they became soft and pitch-coloured, but in the current series in India one in significantly better condition has appeared. "The newer balls we've been using have been pretty shiny and still have the Kookaburra writing on them," Lee said in the Australian. "It makes it harder for the bowlers because you're trying to work with a ball that is as old as possible and you come on at the 34th over and you're bowling with a new ball again."

Tim Nielsen, Australia's coach, has noticed a change in scoring rates after the change. "After the 34th over our run rate's escalated quite a bit," he told the paper. "We've been going on at four or five an over and it's got up to seven or eight a couple of times. The different ball is harder and comes on to the bat better."

Lee has been tried with a soft ball during the series to see if he can get reverse-swing and he has also been employed with the replacement. "It depends on the position of the game," Nielsen said. "If you've got a new batsman you might bring on the fast bowlers. If you've got two batsmen in you might try and batten down the hatches a bit until the ball gets softer."

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