Allen pleased with latest innovations

Coach of the Windward Islands senior Cricket team, Vincentian Ian Allen, says he is all for the latest innovations proposed for the rebranded West Indies Regional Super50 Limited Overs Competition.{{more}}

Among the innovations to be put in place in Guyana, from October 18 to 29, is that two bowlers from each side will be allowed to bowl 12 overs each.

Previously, the maximum number of overs, was ten per bowler, but Allen sees this as a way of giving captains an opportunity to have their best bowlers on the day take advantage of their form.

“What this does is that it allows captains more options with his top bowlers on the day,” Allen said to SEARCHLIGHT last Saturday, just after he had conducted a one-on-one session with Windwards wicketkeeper, Linden James.

“Also, it gives the captains the option of using these bowlers in short bursts of four-over spells,” Allen added.

Allen said that the bowlers, in turn, have to be fitter physically and mentally, to bowl the additional two overs.

On the other hand, Allen said that the weaker bowlers on the day will bowl fewer overs.

Another of the innovations is that the mandatory close-catcher rule during the field restrictions, will be done away with, and up to four fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the non-Power play overs.

Also to be put in place is the batting and bowling Power plays, which will be taken between the 16th and 40th overs.

Allen opined that this will allow the middle overs to be more entertaining.

In next month’s Super50, two balls will be used in each innings, with the opening bowlers starting with a new ball from each end. Previously, the ball was changed at the 34th over.

The WICB’s new format is in line with what was decided for the international game at the ICC annual conference in Hong Kong, earlier this year.

“Anything which makes the game more attractive, I am for it, as Cricket is an evolving game,” Allen, a former St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Windwards and West Indies fast bowler said.

Allen is hoping that the Windwards will maintain their form from last year, when they beat Jamaica, the Combined Campuses and Colleges and Trinidad and Tobago in the group stage, but fell to the Leewards by four runs in a nervy semi-finals.

But Allen will have to do without Darren Sammy, the West Indies Captain, who will be in Bangladesh with the regional team. Last year, Sammy was the Windwards’ top performer with the ball, taking ten wickets.

Barbados and the Leeward Islands finished in a dramatic tie in last year’s finals in Jamaica, and both return this year as joint defending champions. (RT)