'Unacceptable': Shane Warne leads outrage over 'ridiculous' ODI farce
Cricket legend Shane Warne has led the condemnation of the ‘unacceptable’ slow-over rate in Australia’s victory over India in the first ODI of the summer.
Steve Smith was in ominous touch after a fluent hundred and a captain's century from Aaron Finch guided Australia to a comfortable 66-run win in their ODI series opener against India.
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Smith (105), Finch (114), David Warner (69) and Glenn Maxwell (45) dismantled and demoralised the visiting attack at the SCG, where the hosts stormed to a total of 6-374 thanks partly to some sloppy fielding.
But both teams came under fire after the match still had eight overs left to play at 10.40pm, despite the scheduled finish time at 10.10pm.
Commentator Mark Howard also pointed out spinner Adam Zampa was jogging back to his mark in an apparent attempt to speed up the overs.
Smith admitted after the game it was the “longest” 50-overs he had experienced in the field.
“Good question, it felt like it went all day,” he told Fox Sports after the game.
“It was the longest 50 overs in the field I’ve ever had, that’s for sure. I don’t know what to put that down to. Obviously a few people came on the field in the first innings which took a bit of time and I think they (India) went 45 minutes over the scheduled time and we were something similar.”
Shane Warne blasts slow-over rate
In commentary, Warne took aim at India’s slow-over rate towards the end of the game.
He singled out India for taking more than four hours to bowl their 50 overs.
“The over rates in T20 cricket and one day cricket, in all forms of cricket, are at an all-time low,” Shane Warne said.
“I mean a one-day game should be finished at 10.10pm. It’s now 10.40pm local time and there’s still eight overs to go after this.
“India took four hours and six minutes to bowl their 50 overs. Four hours and six minutes.”
Former players and viewers also took aim at the ‘ridiculous’ length of the ODI match.
The over-rates aren't poor, they are unacceptable.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 27, 2020
The only solution for slow over-rates is penalising the teams in the same match and not prospectively in the future. Like in 1999 World Cup India faced four overs less in their game against Zimbabwe and were knocked out #cricket #AusvInd
— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) November 27, 2020
India’s over rate is appalling ... !!! Body language defensive ... fielding is my standard (shocking) ... Bowling ordinary !!! Aussies on the other hand have been outstanding ... Long tour for India me thinks ... #AUSvIND @FoxCricket @cricbuzz !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 27, 2020
3 hours 30 minutes into the start of the game and we just finished 44th over !
Kohli being fined for slow over rate is inevitable now ?? #AUSvIND— Ashritha (@imashritha) November 27, 2020
It's a horribly slow over rate!
— 🏏FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) November 27, 2020
11.09pm.
8 hours and 29 minutes after this game began.
Ridiculous.#AUSvIND— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) November 27, 2020
It’s been 7.30 hours since the start of this game....and we have at least one hour of play to go. 😱 #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 27, 2020
The captain of the team that falls behind in the over rate faces penalties for not keeping up with the standard pace.
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