International Cricket Council (ICC) came forward on Monday attempting to amplify the appeal of the game to the youth by introducing a bunch of amusing and revolutionary proposals.
The international cricket body announced on their social media that a number of changes will be rolling out with the start of World Test Championship from July 2019 to June 2021 that will draw in more interest form the younger generations.
“As part of our efforts to make the game more appealing to younger generations, the ICC will be applying both numbers and Instagram handles to kits from the beginning of the World Test Championship,” ICC tweeted.
The global governing body of cricket suggested that during the longest format, the jerseys of the players will have their Instagram handles printed on the back along with their numbers: As part of our efforts to make the game more appealing to younger generations, the ICC will be applying both numbers and Instagram handles to kits from the beginning of the World Test Championship.”
In another groundbreaking move, ICC revealed that the traditional coin toss that determines who gets to bat and field first, a Twitter poll will let users decide which team should opt for what: “In further changes ahead of the World Test Championship, the tradition of the coin toss will be replaced by a @Twitter poll, allowing fans at home to decide who bats and bowls!”
In case the temperatures rise up to a certain degree, ICC has suggested that players can be allowed to wear shorts on the ground: “Should the temperature reach 35°C, the ICC's updated playing conditions will allow all Test players the option to wear shorts.”
In another amusing turn of events, commentators can now move closer to the pitch to closely observe as they will have the option of moving directly into the field instead of the com-box: “In a move to bring fans even closer to the sport, broadcasters will have the option to position commentators on the field of play behind the slips cordon.”
Much like baseball, this proposition lets players hurl double trouble on the opposing side: “After taking a catch, the fielding team will be permitted to complete a ‘Double Wicket Play’ by running out the other batsman”.
Moreover, ICC also permitted sixers and boundaries to turn into eights and twelves as the runs scored in the game’s evening session of a day or night game will be doubled: “Runs scored in the evening session of day/night Tests will count double, creating a new and exciting strategic element.”
Apart from that, a change has also been made in the cricket lingo as dot balls and no balls will now be called ‘Faults’ and ‘Aces’: “Two minor changes will be made to cricket terminology with no balls and dot balls to henceforth be known as 'Faults' and 'Aces'.”
While the changes were well-received all around elevating the excitement of cricket enthusiasts, many users have drawn our attention towards this being a possible April fool's prank, which we can only wait and see!
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