Majority of the cricket viewers prefer high-scoring ODI matches. The era of 250 scores is outdated now.
That's because it's artificial embedded into viewers mind. Cricket isn't for slog feast - it's a contest between bat & ball.
Yesterdays match was one of the most boring one - not because it was one sided, because the wicket didn't offer any trade-off. Let me explain - BD put a decent total, but not match winning & the wicket was absolute belter. Now, what ENG did was play around 360 & kept asking around 6.5 all through. Had Mash brought his fielders in - there was only one way traffic, Poms would have won it inside 45 overs, may be losing couple more. This is because with his attack Mash had no other option to try choking ENG on such wickets.
Take, same match on a different surface - based on one good innings of 91 (127), BD posts 245/9 with wicket offering something for the bowlers. Now, Mash can play a trade-off - bring 6 men it & try to get batsmen out. ENG still can go after the bowling, but with a risk of suddenly 151/7, because it's not a one way traffic.
What ICC has done these days is, they have taken out "Come-back" from ODI game, which has made this boring in terms of contest, by artificially distorting the taste of audience. 90% of todays' matches are done inside 50 overs, sometimes even earlier. Teams starting on absolute belter, starts with a predetermined total & they go after ball 1 - if it clicks, they'll post 350 & most times, chasing side is out of the game (though, they also might end at 340). Or, to do so, team batting first ends up at 60/3 or 90/4 - still they'll reach 270 ............and most days will lose inside 45 overs.
This is where "come-back" is associated with he balance of the contest. In 90s, most the the even contest ended in nail biters, simply because the condition offered something to make a come-back - you bat first & end up 50/4 in 15 overs, still your set batsman can guide the tail to 222 & then your bowlers can fight it out on what is still a helpful wicket. Or, batting side is at 140/1 - Captain brings his spearhead, put attacking fielding & knocks down couple - it's 147/3, chip around one more - 153/4 - you are back in the game & can restrict batting side to say 234/9.
The trade-off in the game is how much risk Captain is ready to take a wicket, which is ultimate key. After 15 overs, regulation was only 4 fielders, still great Captains put 6 inside for a trade - off. Most famous one I can recall in IND-AUS WC match at Mumbai '96. India was cruising, when Taylor brought Shane & he actually put a Test match field in 41st over, when asking was around 5.5 - Shane did get Manji, caught at slip to win the contest.
I don't think viewers prefer high scoring matches - they prefer close contest.
by Ronchi
