ICA approve radical changes to 2009 season

The level of cricket in Israel has been declining steadily in recent seasons, evidenced by the national team's relegation to European Division 3. In an effort to halt the decline, and improve the competitiveness of the local leagues, the ICA has decided on a number of changes to the playing format and structure of the leagues as the 2009 season quickly approaches.

1-day Test Cricket? Cricket may be getting shorter and shorter as 20/20 takes center stage, and it may not be long before even that is considered to boring as well...maybe matches should just be 1-over each team?? But purists will tell you there is nothing like a 5-day Test. So Israel has devised a system that combines the action of a limited overs game with the skills required by the longer version...let's call it a 1-day Test. The basic concept is as follows:

There are a maximum of 80 overs in a day's play.
The team batting first may bat for a maximum of 45 overs, but can declare at any time after 20 overs.
The team batting second will bat for a minimum of 35 overs, plus any overs not used by the team batting first (up to a maximum of 45)
In order to win the game, the team batting first must dismiss the team batting second, or, assuming the team batting second has not reached their target total, the game is a draw.
A bowler may bowl up to 10 overs in a day.
Batting bonus points are on hand for scoring runs or completing victory for the loss of as few wickets as possible; bowling bonus points are scored for wickets taken.
The fielding team may not have more than 5 fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

The system is intended to develop captains and get players thinking more - when to declare? should I bat aggressively and go for the win, or close up shop and bat for a draw? Do I set attacking fielders and try get wickets, or play defensively and ensure a draw? A further advantage will be getting batsmen to learn to improve their skills by adapting their game to the match situation. Having bowlers allowed to bowl more than the regular one-fifth of allotted overs will improve standards as batsmen will be facing more better bowling and bowlers, especially spinners, can benefit from longer spells. A further intention is to make the league more competitive, weaker teams can try hold stronger teams to a draw, giving them an incentive to achieve something from a game they would otherwise certainly lose. Stronger teams will be tested and have to work harder to achieve maximum points.

Division 1 will be boosted by the inclusion of the Israel U19 team, who in turn will receive invaluable practice and preparation as a unit ahead of the Maccabiah Games and the European U19 Championships in the summer. With 9 teams in the league, each team will play the other once in Round 1, after which the U19's drop out, and the other eight divide into groups of 4 according to their league placings, carry their points from Round 1 forward, and play each other again to determine the final standings. Therefore each team plays 11 league games. The bottom team gets relegated, the team finishing second bottom plays the second placed team from Division 2 in a play-off game, increasing the competitiveness of both divisions. Division 2, consisting of 11 teams, will each play the other once, guaranteeing each team 10 league games.

WIth the completion of the league, 20/20 cricket will make it's debut in Israel for the first time, with teams divided into groups of four, playing each other once, with the group winners playing in Finals Day (semi-finals and final on the same day). This competition will replace the traditional ICA Cup knock-out competition.

Changes have also been introduced regarding the allocation of umpires, which will now be done by name, rather than team. Criterion such as the number of games umpired, feedback received from captains, and qualifications will be combined to determine an Umpiring Panel divided into three categories as of 2010.

General changes have also been approved, such as water breaks now being taken on the field of play and severe punishments for teams forfeiting matches.

Evening seminars will be held in different locations across the country over the coming fortnight to familiarise team captains with the changes to ensure maximum benefit is achieved from the new system and teams approach games with the correct attitude.

2009 will be a very busy season internationally. The Maccabiah games take place in July, with Australia, Great Britain and South Africa sending both junior and senior teams, and India hopefully sending a senior team as well. The juniors will play each other twice in 45-over matches, the format of the senior competition depends on whether India participate or not, but will include both 50-overs and a 20/20 competition.

In European competition, Israel U19 travels to Belgium in August, the U15's play in Italy later in the month, before the seniors begin their efforts to regain their spot in Division 2 with a tournament in Spain in September.

The domestic season will commence towards the end of March, with fixtures and complete regulations to be published shortly.