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Powerplays!

India has wrapped up the series against England. Indian team is performing very well in OSIs. Currently they are on 10 or 12 match winning streak and will be hoping to improve on it in current and future WI series.

ICC tried two new rules for ODIs in 2005, Powerplays and Substitute. The latter failed and ICC had to scrap it. The other rule, powerplays, is still in the development stages. Usually teams tend to use powerplays continuously as a span of first 20 overs. So the rule has effectively changed the number of overs under fielding restriction from 15 to 20, thereby resulting in higher scores.

But today, Dravid used powerplays intelligently. He did not use powerplays 2 and 3 between 11 tp 20 overs. Instead he used them separately. And he was successful in that. India got crucial wickets of Pieterson and Flintoff, both got out trying to hit spinners out of the ground. That was the turning point of the match.

Teams are trying to use powerplays more efficienly. It can become a part in the overall strategy of the game.

posted by ninad @ 8:11 pm