Bat makers question likely ICC crackdown on sizes

Bat manufactures claim that there are reasons other than the size of the bat to blame for the unfair balance between bat and ball. 

The International Cricket Councils reported decision to crack down on bat sizes during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, has caused bat manufacturers and batsmen to raise eyebrows, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald has said. They claim that there are reasons other than the size of the bat to blame for the unfair balance between bat and ball.

Bat makers pointed out that other modifications like reduced boundaries, the use of two new white cricket balls and restriction on the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle had contributed to the imbalance. They have argued that the impending action on bat sizes was short-sighted.

In the last couple of years, India opener Rohit Sharma has scored two ODI double centuries while New Zealand's Corey Anderson and South Africa's AB de Villiers have shattered the record for the fastest century in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Many other standout batting performances have led to a debate on the modern bats helping batsmen gain the upper hand.

It's purely because you're using a brand new ball for the first 20 overs. I've got cricket bats here in my business and they're half the size and they ping just as much. Its only a psychological thing, Kunal Sharma, whose Spartan Sports provides Chris Gayle and Mahendra Singh Dhoni their bats told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gunn and Moores Brand Manager Greg Eime said smaller grounds were also a factor. Effectively the game has changed and the way the batsmen play has changed. It's a combination of a lot of things, even down to the players' physical fitness and strength. To go finger pointing at the bats, I don't think that's quite fair, he said from England.

Gray-Nicolls Sponsor Manager Michael Reid said a number of changes, and not bat sizes, have contributed to higher scores. Batsmen have echoed the sentiments of the bat manufacturers, with players like Dan Christian and Ed Cowan stating that the change in ODI rules is the prime factor.

Last year, former India player Sanjay Manjrekar sparked off a debate by voicing his concerns in a column on ESPNcricinfo. He wrote that bats were getting chunkier by the day while not getting heavier, giving batsmen an unfair advantage.

ICC chief executive David Richardson told ESPNcricinfo that the balance between bat and ball might have shifted a bit too much. When some batsmen are mis-hitting, the ball is just carrying over the rope instead of being caught at the boundary, some cricket people believe that it is unfair. MCC, as law makers, and the ICC will be looking at giving perhaps some consideration to placing limitations on the depth of a bat in particular, he said.