Australia's Cricket World Cup record 417 against Afghanistan has raised further questions over whether batsmen have too much in their favour.
James Laver has helped carve the new shape of cricket, making bats for greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Even he thinks bats have gotten too big.
"It's starting to go too far," he says. "If you break it down to the sheer bat it's very straightforward: it needs to be regulated in size."
Laver says bigger edges and sweet spots have added 10 percent power. Bats are now dried out for longer, so a bigger blade comes at a lighter weight and power.
"For instance, a balloon - if you push a balloon it has a lot of spring to it," he says. "Whereas if you filled that balloon with water, it's very different."
It allows cavalier Australian Glenn Maxwell to safely take more risks.
While the willow has changed dramatically for the batsmen, the balls have remained the same. In fact, they're now using two of them – the harder the ball, the further it travels.
New fielding restrictions allow a maximum four players in the outfield, while players like Black Cap Corey Anderson are more practiced at big hitting.
"I think you've seen Twenty20 Cricket increase the scores in one-day games, simply because guys know how to attack bowlers," says Anderson.
The Black Caps have avoided conceding big scores so far with a simple solution.
"I think if you keep taking the wickets, it minimises that death period," says bowler Tim Southee.
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source: newshub archive
