Change format of ODIs

From Veer Dhandapani, USA
Watching the recent ODI series between India and SL, the importance of the toss on the outcome of the matches was significant. Especially in grounds like Dambulla, Premadasa, Cape Town, Durban etc. The ongoing clamor for revamping the ODI format to make it more exciting throws up an opportunity to balance the input of the toss into the results equation.

What about dividing the ODI innings into two parts: Each team going for a certain number of overs and then in the 2nd half the team that lost the toss gets to choose what they want to do - bat or field first. There are several exciting possibilities here - the cutoff for the first half can be 25 or 35 overs - halfway point or the point where the ball is changed - the rules can be set up for one choice here. The value of winning the toss is diluted to a first mover advantage only - the last move can still be decided by the team losing the toss.

Or the team winning the toss can choose to give the choice of picking batting or bowling first up to the team losing the toss. Either way, it throws up a game within a game - what will happen at the toss itself gets to be exciting while diluting its potential impact on the result. Both teams get a somewhat level playing field, especially under lights when the playing conditions are different than during the day.

Another suggestion is to allow the captains to name their teams after the toss and decision at the toss - this would also even the field a bit as the losing team at the toss can atleast field the team for the circumstances. At worst, these ideas are worth a try - I think they are certainly better than some of the ones that have been tried - the substitute at the innings break being one that was summarily dumped after it got a go around.