ICC suspect actions....never mind the bowling

         I am an old school cricket lover, who can abstain  from 50 or 20 over cricket but never from test cricket. Why would i make such a point at the commencement of this article?...because  i want to make abundantly clear as to which suite of cricketing skills i love watching the most. Now, test cricket does something remarkable, it gives the bowlers the opportunity to act with impunity with respect to wides and the mentality to run-in and make the batsman work for his runs. It addresses the balance between bat and ball more than any other format. In an era where even tail-enders are undaunted and plant the front foot out to smash a quickie for a six.

       I find no whiff of blasphemy in backing Allan Donald's stand where he tried to garner support in legalizing ball-tampering. Given the widening bats, shrinking boundaries, flatter pitches and a plethora of T20 cricket, it seems that the bat has firmly ensconced itself in the driver seat in the suite of cricket. Plus, given the X-factor of the certain mystery bowlers. All spinners by the way, they add the much needed awe element at the other end of the wicket which the game doesn't seem to respect these days. But proscribing them from the game ain't gonna help matters.
      Nurturing and respecting the miscellaneous talent outside the MCC manual will go a long way towards integrating odd, but adept, folks in the hierarchy. The ICC should also try to bridle the batsmen to keep the game in the balance. That will in the interest of the fans and the game, barring ofcourse, if you wish to watch gunslinging batsmen and mudslinging officials.