Rule changes have lead to big-scoring ODIs: Sachin Tendulkar

TIL Desk Sports/ Sachin Tendulkar takes nothing away from the current crop of batsmen but the Indian great believes a slew of rule changes have led to ballooning scores in one-day cricket. India will become the first team to play 1000 one-day internationals when they host West Indies in Sunday’s series opener in Ahmedabad.

Tendulkar has featured in 463 of them and his tally of 18,426 runs remains an unmatched benchmark even a decade after he played the last of his ODIs. “I wouldn’t take away any credit from batters, but rules and conditions have changed,” the 48-year-old told in a telephone interview on Friday.

“Batters’ strike rates are way higher than it used to be in the 1990s, and bowlers’ economy rates are also higher… average runs scored in 50 overs today is way more than it was in the 1990s. “Two new balls, field restrictions and change in match timings — these elements have changed the game over the years.” Bowling with two new balls has effectively killed reverse swing in one-day cricket, according to Tendulkar, whose 49 ODI centuries remains a record.