Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the introduction of the new T10 format ‘6ixty’, which will take place in the West Indies. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) board recently announced their new T10 league, starting from August 24.
The tournament will be contested by six men’s and three women’s teams, ahead of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this year. In a video on Aakash Chopra’s Youtube channel, the former cricketer expressed questions about the tournament. He pointed out the evolution of the game from the test format to the T10. Aakash said,
“Test matches used to be timeless, it was drawn once because a team would have missed their ship. Then came ODI cricket – that also went from 60 to 50 overs, then T20 came, and now T10 has come. I mean how much will you change the game, the 6ixty is going to come. It is T10 with a twist.”
The ‘6ixty’ format has different rules compared to traditional cricket. A team will get bowled out if six of their players are dismissed. However, on the field, there will be eleven players, as in the other formats. Aakash expressed,
“Cricket’s fundamentals are that a team has 11 players and you need to get 10 players out to get the team all out. They said 10 players are too many for 10 overs, so we will make it shorter, get only six players out and the team is all out. 11 fielders will still be there on the ground, that’s what I understand.”
You have an incentive to go big in the first 12 balls: Aakash Chopra on the additional powerplay rule
The former India cricketer also spoke about the additional powerplay rule, that the 6ixty format has brought in. He stated,
“This is very interesting that if any team hits two sixes in the first 12 balls, then you can unlock the third powerplay, you don’t need to take that together but anytime till the ninth over. So you have an incentive to go big in the first 12 balls.”
Cricket authorities seem to have zero confidence in the sport as entertainment in itself and think people will only be attracted by increasingly zany gimmicks. Vote for a mystery free hit! pic.twitter.com/LEIOwXt4Iy
— Cricket Stuff (@Cricket_Stuff) June 22, 2022
In the 6ixty format, five consecutive overs will be bowled from each end. Speaking about the rule, Aakash Chopra expressed that it will help to save time. Another rule that the former Indian cricketer thought was interesting is the ‘mystery-free hit’ rule.
“This is very good that in 45 minutes if you don’t bowl your 10 overs, you will have to field with one less player in the last over. One more interesting thing is that you can create a ‘mystery-free hit’. The spectators can decide that through a website or app. It will suddenly come on the big screen, the bowler will say what is his mistake,” said Aakash Chopra.
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