Australia to experiment with 4 innings one-dayers

Melbourne:

In what would be the first step towards revamping one-day cricket, Cricket Australia on Friday decided to split the format into four innings in its domestic circuit.

The details of the new format are still to be finalised, including the number of overs that each match will comprise, Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Teams will most likely resume their second batting innings from the point at which they ended their first innings and a number of new playing conditions will also be introduced like changes to the bowling restrictions and a simplification of powerplays.

The changes are planned to take effect in the second half of the Ford Ranger Cup, with four rounds to be played under the existing 50-over format before the new model is introduced for the final six rounds including the final.

"This decision to split the competition between the existing and new formats was made to minimise the disruption to the Australian team's preparation for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup," a media release said.

"After conducting extensive research within Australian cricket over many months, the message we received was that the one-day game enjoys public support but needs refreshing, and that CA should be proactive in finding a solution that addresses the issues identified with the current 50-over format," CA CEO James Sutherland said.

"It's important to stress that the implementation of the new format in our interstate one-day competition wont compromise our planning and preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup, a 50-over format tournament which we'll be attempting to win for an unprecedented fourth straight time."

Sutherland said the new format will be reviewed at the end of the season before putting it up for discussion at the ICC.