It was surprising to see India goign to 2 consecutive match without a specialist spinner. Although Sachin bowled full quota of 10 overs.
In pakistan inning also only 3 overs were bowled by spinner.
It looks like , very soon we will not have any specialist spinner playing ODIs unless he can claim his place in the team purely as a batsman. The way rules are evolving in favour of batsmen and on top of that those bating friendly wicket, I dont see spinners playing any role in this Sereis and for that matter future series in subcontinent.
Power Play has really ruined it for them. You cant use them during 20 overs of powerplay for the fear of gettign whacked. Then you cant use them in last 10 overs for the same reason.
Frankly, The ODI FORMAT is in need for EXTREME MAKEOVER.
Its not just the problem with spinners, when you see AKMAL/AFRIDI and DHONI/PATHAN being sent before the more established batsmen...there is something very wrong somewhere.
The One-day match has become a mindless contest of blind slogging with the bowlers having very little say (unless you are in McGrath or Akram's class). Any score less than 300 is now considered below par.
The other day India scored 320+ and I still thought India did not score enough...and I was proved right.
They should at least bring the ONE TAPPA OUT just so the batsmen get the taste of what bowlers face with Power-plays. j/k
Or another rule (to nullify the batsman's advantge during POWER PLAYS) :
If the batsman hits the ball in the air and clears the infield (inner circle) during the duration when POWER PLAY is on, he would be OUT (unless he hits the ball for a SIX...of course).
Now that's creative....and will take care of the tulleybaazs of the world.
