Little Progress Thanks To Rain

Ross Taylor ruled out of the game

Rain at Maclean Park Napier, limited the progress of the Test between New Zealand and Zimbabwe to only 15 overs on the second day. Wicketkeeper Ben Watling did most of the scoring, adding 37 to his overnight score to post his second fifty in Tests. The most important moment of the day came when skipper Ross Taylor tore a calf muscle and because of the new ICC rule disallowing runners for injured batsmen, had to retire hurt on 122. Subsequent medical reports indicate he'll take no further part in this Test or the one day series which follows. No doubt, of more concern to Taylor and New Zealand cricket will be his fitness for the home series against South Africa in March.

It is an interesting rule change by the ICC, intended to remove charlatans from the game who play unfit and milk the runner rule - a certain rotund former Sri Lankan captain comes to mind - but the new ruling seems to be a baby and the bath water job. Not only does it rob the paying public from their full entitlement but it disadvantages teams who are unlucky enough to have batsmen injured during the course of a game and will encourage batsmen to bat on injured and unaided, in all likelihood, causing them further injury. Gone will be the heroic champion batting on one leg, replaced with the "bugger off you weakling" clause.

Surely a simpler outcome would have been to have had an ICC appointed doctor at each Test match to adjudicate on injuries and if it was found to have happened in the game and would not result in any permanent disability, then the batsman should be entitled to return with a runner. At first class levels, ruling authorities would appoint same and at club level, where no medical judge can be present, let common sense, the opposition captain or if necessary, the ICC rule decide.

Removing runners altogether is short sighted overkill to such a small issue. Then, overkill seems to be the favoured method these days. Its a pity the ICC hadn't been as zealous in chasing down cheats, unscrupulous promoters and performance enhancing drug users in international cricket. When the real stories emerge of power broking on the sub continent and the back handers involved then perhaps we'll return some beauty to the game and keep the biff and bash boys in perspective.

It would be nice if the game's ruling authority wasn't constantly attending exclusively to its cash cows and spent some more time making sure the calves were safe.