Kirsten backs Tendulkar's proposal to revive ODIs

Chennai:

India coach Gary Kirsten on Wednesday gave a thumbs up to Sachin Tendulkar's idea of splitting the one-dayers into four innings of 25 overs each to revive the format, saying the senior batsman's proposal should be given a thought.

"It is a good idea. I know it has been suggested before somewhere down the line," Kirsten told reporters here.

Tendulkar had suggested that ODIs be split into four innings of 25 overs a side to negate the luck factor associated with winning the toss and bring some excitement to the format which is fighting for survival in the face of the Twenty20 storm.

Kirsten said the the option can be explored. "I think what he is doing is that he is just opening it up to see the different options that could be brought about in the one-day game. A player of his stature, one should listen to him," he said.

Tendulkar had said he hit upon the idea during the 2002 Champions Trophy when India played two finals against Sri Lanka due to rain disruptions but no result could come forcing the organisers to declare the two sides joint winners.

"I thought 110 overs and no result, that's when I thought of this (splitting the match into four innings of 25 overs a side)," he had stated.