Half the time the 10-ball over won't be bowled at all... The Cricketer takes part in the world's first 100-delivery match

HUW TURBERVILL: The world's first 100-ball match has been road-tested by The Cricketer in Jersey – and we are happy to send some feedback to the ECB

^{The Cricketer played the world's first 100-ball match on tour in Jersey}

The world's first 100-ball match has been road-tested by The Cricketer in Jersey – and we are happy to send some feedback to the ECB.

Their brainchild has received a decidedly mixed reaction since it was unveiled to a startled public on Thursday.

A potential shortcoming of the suggested format is that the 10-ball over will quite often be bowled only once in the game.

If the side batting second reaches their target within the 15 six-ball overs, it becomes redundant.

It raises the question of whether the ECB might want to use the 10-ball over as a ‘joker’ anywhere in the innings, as has been mooted.

Critics say T20 (two innings of 120 balls, a match of 240) is not enough to give 22 cricketers a decent game.

^{Andrew Strauss has been explaining the ECB's rationale}

This format (100 balls per innings, 200 in the game) obviously felt even slighter. Three batsmen made 40-plus scores, but only 11 people batted in total.

A quote by Andrew Strauss over the weekend has caused puzzlement. “What we’re trying to do is really appeal to a new audience. We’re looking at mums and kids in the school holidays and finding a way to make it as simple as possible.”

As Mariam Kimber replied to me on Twitter: “Well actually this mum with kids had no problem understanding the existing formats Andrew.”

And what can be more simple than 20 six-ball overs? Or if time is so pressing, why not just play 15 six-ballers? It seems it is all about the magic ‘100’ (and there is a strong suspicion that the BBC are desperate for the games to end on the dot by nine, so the BBC1 news can start on time… or if the games are on BBC2, Top Gear, Summerwatch and so on.

Did the conversation with the Beeb go like this?

“Ahh, it’s great cricket will be back on the Beeb. Memories of Benaud, West, Lewis, Illy and Laker...”

“Yes… but we have no interest in showing Tests and county cricket, I am afraid.”

“Oh ... well, T20 will still be good….”

“Ahh, we only want a 2.5 hour game so can you invent a new 16.4 format?”

There was mild bemusement debating the format among a small-yet-keen local crowd. Mark Tribe inadvertently bowled the first 10-ball over (with four wides); the first official 10-ball over was bowled by Matthew Bignell, who has just represented Jersey at badminton in the Commonwealth Games. He conceded 10, and The Cricketer total of 114 looked below par.

It seems the equivalent of a camel, a horse invented by committee.

It also all reminds me of how the United States of America used to view soccer. Goals were not enough for the North America Soccer League. It also used to be all about assists too. And when the 1994 World Cup was being planned, there was talk of four quarters of 25 minutes and wider goals.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

There was widespread scepticism about T20 when it was introduced in 2003. The format has won people around (even if many feel too much of it is being played at the expense of longer form). So why not leave it alone now? Players’ records can be compared across the board, IPL v Big Bash v NatWest T20 Blast and so on.

Will leading players like Quinton de Kock be put off that is not T20? Well one would assume players will still come if the money is good enough. Others will want to be there at the start of something new, to tell the grandkids.

As I write this The Telegraph’s Nick Hoult has just tweeted that the ECB are saying up to three bowlers could bowl the 10-ball over. All this requires a redrafting by the Laws of cricket. I know we used to have eight-ball overs in Tests, but surely this is all going too far?

I eagerly wait to say what MCC say about it.

Cricket did not need the 10-over jamboree in Sharjah, and many feel it doesn’t need this.

Are the ECB just floating these ideas out there to see how they go down? It seems fair to say, not all that well so far… this has all the hallmarks of the Strauss Super Series (when points were added up from Test, 50-over and T20 matches to find an overall winner, and the Stanford $20m for 20.

Two camps are developing: one of critics who will no doubt be labelled ‘reactionaries’, the other ‘progressives’ who are open-minded. Michael Vaughan has tweeted, for instance: “One of the biggest successes of the #IPL is the opportunity it gives young Indian players to play under huge pressure and rub shoulders with the best coaches & players in the world ... Hopefully our new Comp will give our Young players the same chance ... #100ball”

It will be truly fascinating to see who will be lined up to present and commentate on this on the BBC…

Our 10-ball over not even close to being required. Well beaten by @FarmersCricket with 25 balls to spare, two down. Fair to say we haven’t played our best cricket today... pic.twitter.com/cSr8Kj836A

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) April 22, 2018

The counties are said to be happy. I bet they are. They get to keep the popular, proven format, while the ECB use this experimental new one.

Alas we had a one-sided encounter at Farmers CC in Jersey on Sunday, schoolboy brothers Asa and Zak Tribe giving the world's No.1 cricket magazine a lesson.

At least the venue was worthy. It is where Jersey play in the World Cricket League. Built by farmer Jimmy Perchard, it is a beautiful ground, amazing considering it was a potato field 15 years ago.

There was mild bemusement debating the format among a small-yet-keen local crowd. In The Cricketer’s innings, I hit 43. Mark Tribe inadvertently bowled the first 10-ball over (with four wides); the first official 10-ball over was bowled by Matthew Bignell, who has just represented Jersey at badminton in the Commonwealth Games. He conceded 10, and The Cricketer total of 114 looked below par. Will totals of 150 be the norm for the pros from 2020?

Asa Tribe, 14, made a lovely 44, his high backlift ensuring crisp strokeplay square of the wicket. Older brother Zak Tribe (16) played beautifully for his 45.

The De la Salle College duo put on a stand of 99, as the hosts won with 23 balls to spare.

Will the 100-ball format be more of a success when the pros take it on? Without 2020 vision, who knows…