Ambrose says ODIs may as well use bowling machines

Cricketing knights Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Curtly Ambrose are at odds over the balance between bat and ball in modern one-day cricket.

West Indies bowling coach Ambrose says the World Cup’s rules favour batsmen enormously and reckons bowling machines could soon be wheeled onto grounds as human bowlers have turned into run fodder.

Bigger bats, free hits, flat pitches and smaller grounds all work against bowlers, he said.

However, the former pace bowling great says the sport’s bosses should firstly address the number of power plays, when the bowling side must bring its field in.

“I think presently, it’s grossly one-sided, everything favours the batsmen,” he said.

“If you’ve bowled really tight and they can’t score, then all of a sudden the field comes in. To me, that’s a no-no.

“At the moment it’s all about the batting and if you have no bowlers, you have no cricket. Soon we may have to get some bowling machines.”

Ambrose and Hadlee held contrasting views at a media event in Wellington on Thursday, two days out from the quarter-final between the Black Caps and West Indies.

New Zealand great Hadlee says the high team scores at the tournament were something to admire, but they were balanced out by some quality bowling performances.

In 41 completed pool games, there were 25 scores of 300 or more.

Hadlee pointed out there were also some low-scoring games and the best bowlers had the ability to overcome the odds against them.

“We’re seeing quality bowlers get wickets so the contests between bat and ball, on the type of pitches we’ve been playing on, have been outstanding.

“You want to be fair and equal and I think it’s panned out to be that way, which is great.”

Hadlee, 63, took 431 Test scalps, 26 more than Ambrose, 51, but at a slightly higher average.

Hadlee rated South African quick Dale Steyn and Black Caps new ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult as the best seamers at the tournament.
When reminded that Australian Mitchell Starc leads the wicket tally, Hadlee conceded the left-armer warranted a rating alongside them.
AAP