Stuart Broad says 100-ball concept brings fresh tactical dimension to cricket
Thursday 19 April 2018 14:59, UK
Seamer Stuart Broad says the new 100-ball concept proposed for English domestic cricket will bring an intriguing, fresh tactical dimension to the game.
Broad, 31, says he is "hugely optimistic" that the format proposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board for 2020 will succeed in attracting a new audience to the game.
"I love the fact that it is different from all the other tournaments worldwide - 15 six-ball overs and then the pressure of a 10-ball over to finish," he said. "I also love that it's got a slightly different unique selling point and a shorter game than T20.
"You are stepping into the unknown a little bit because that tactical side of the game hasn't been used anywhere in the world. That brings a lot of intrigue, not just to the players involved and all the coaching staff, but the audience.
"When you're going to a game not really knowing which way it's going to go and everything can be brand new, I think that brings a lot of excitement."
Under the ECB's plan, men's and women's tournaments would run side-by-side in a five-week window in the middle of the summer and Broad said it's crucial that the games are played in one section of the season.
"I think it's important because as a fan you get a rhythm for the tournament and you can follow the team that you choose to follow; you can see players consistently on the television or at the grounds performing.
"I like the fact that it will be finished with a final and everyone has really enjoyed the eight weeks that the competition has been going on.
"I think that you can lose the enjoyment of it if the final is after a few four-day games at the end of the summer."
Clare Connor CBE, Director of Women's Cricket at ECB, believes the proposals will attract more women and girls to the game - a sentiment Broad shares.
"I've been lucky enough to play a part in the Big Bash over in Australia and both the women's and the men's format are hugely supported over there; it's great how both teams are pushed and marketed," he said.
"I think we saw from the Women's World Cup final last year how much interest and how exciting the Women's game has become; I think this is a great stepping stone to raising the profile of that as well."
England batsman Dawid Malan said that he and Broad have already discussed whether the radical proposals will spawn a new breed of 100-ball specialists, adding that selection for the eight city-based teams - possibly in a draft similar to that used in the IPL - will spark added interest in the competition.
"It will be interesting to see how teams go about their picks for these tournaments," he said. "Do your death bowlers become more important - those last 10 balls are going to be so important?
"It's good for the game because there are so many T20 tournaments around. There was a T10 that was launched recently in the UAE so this is somewhere in between.
"With this tournament especially we are trying to bring new people to the game and appeal to different people in the country.
"If you can do that with something new, a new concept - and the players obviously have to buy into it - then you can bring different people in and it will be a great brand."
