Tony Clifton wrote:What is happening now is that some clubs with pop gun attacks who used to prosper can no longer do so. It's a very good thing for cricket.
Clubs are being forced to uncover bowlers with genuine weapons - height, speed, skills other than just accuracy. Also spinners who genuinely give the ball a rip. I think if we look at the % of overs bowled by wrist spinners this season and compared it to 4 years ago it would have increased.
In turn that means to make runs batters will need to be able to handle facing pace and be adept at playing spin. Skills that actually translate to first class level. Batting time vs medium pacers does not translate at all.
Teams need to take wickets in the first session when the ball is new which is exactly as it should be.
The turf ball doesn't go softer quicker. It doesn't lose shape more. It's a better quality ball.
It's a good thing that bowlers who bowl at 115km/hr can no longer be successful in A Grade cricket. That was the biggest blight on our game previously. When cricketers from Sydney and Melbourne grade cricket came here it was always the first observation they made. No pace, lots of boring medium pacers compared to back home.
Sure, trying to uncover lots of blokes who bowl wheels and are 6'9" is great in theory, but with the amount of teams in the comp and the amount of juniors available it won't happen. I'm not saying spinners have no role to play, nor am I saying the same about fast/medium pace bowlers, but the disparity between Turf and Rego balls forces teams to play completely different to how they would have 5 years ago. You are also selling the medium pace bowlers a bit short too, they need to be able to swing the ball and control their line and length as much as the guy who bowls 130km/h, they just do it at a pace that is easier to whack when they get it wrong.
Needing to play against all types of bowling is important, but players at 1st and second grade level should have the skills to do so already, the issue when going up to the next level is the mental game. Having dibly dobler mediums tying up an end is as hard to bat against as a quick with a reverse swinging ball. Sometimes even harder when the ball has no pace on it and it's hard to score.
Also, the Turf ball absolutely goes softer quicker, you've obviously never used one on a flat wicket if you think otherwise. The Rego balls are significantly harder and more durable than the Turf ball, particularly when it comes to maintaining its shape. I've seen Turf balls changed in the 15th over due to losing shape, never a Rego ball.