Shane Bond: Bowlers are second-class citizens in white-ball cricket

Shane Bond

"Bowlers are pretty much second-class citizens in white-ball cricket," says former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, who feels odds are stacked heavily against them in the limited-overs format. Writing for the International Cricket Council ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in England starting June 1, Bond said limited-overs cricket is "a batsman's game".

"And it isn't merely the fast bowlers, who have their task cut out. The change in fielding restrictions in the last 10 overs of a one-day international has eased the pressure on the bowlers a little bit, but only a little bit. But for the most part, the bowlers are pretty much second-class citizens in white-ball cricket," he added.

Bond said it is this imbalance which has led to spinners using negative tactics. "The slow bowlers specifically are resorting to a more negative line of bowling, not because they want to but because they have to," he said.

"In an era gone by, the pattern was to tee-off in the first 15 overs, build through the middle of the innings and then launch a final onslaught. That philosophy has now gone," he explained.

Bond said bowlers cannot do without variety in the current scenario where every alternate game ends up being a run feast. "The yorker is not just one of the most difficult balls to bowl. The margin for error is also extremely small. Therefore, it becomes vital to use that weapon judiciously.

"You must have the ability to change the length bowl, but also use the bouncer and the slower ball," he opined. "You don't bowl the full ball to certain batsmen, you don't bang it in to certain others," he said.