‘It’s NOT baseball!’ Fans slate ‘ridiculous’ plans to ‘Americanise’ cricket by replacing ‘wickets’ with ‘outs’ in their flashy new Hundred tournament because they don’t think the public understand ‘complex’ terms
- The Telegraph revealed the ECB could change terminology in The Hundred
- ‘Wickets’ could be replaced by ‘outs’ and the term ‘batters’ will be used
- The ECB claim they will make the sport more accessible to new audiences
- But former players and fans are unhappy with the ‘Amercianisation’ of cricket
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has led the criticism of the ECB considering rewriting cricket terminology for their controversial new Hundred competition — with ‘wickets’ being replaced by the baseball term ‘outs’.
Using research from focus groups, the ECB believe the changes will make the sport more accessible to the new audience they hope will be brought in ahead of its delayed launch in July.
Many of Sky Sports’ star-studded line-up for the competition – including England 2005 Ashes heroes Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff as well as current fast bowler Stuart Broad – have remained silent on the changes despite – in the former batsman’s case – his outspoken views on Twitter.
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has led the criticism of the ECB’s controversial terminology changes for The Hundred
The Hundred is a new 100-ball franchise cricket tournament set to begin in 100 days on July 21
The trio will form part of a commentary team from former players from all around the world that will be encouraged to use the new terminology, which will also include the gender-neutral term batters too.
But Hogg however slammed the perceived Americanisation of cricket and has accused the ECB of ‘tampering’ with the traditional terminology following the report in The Telegraph.
‘The Hundred changing ‘wickets’ to ‘outs’ for dismissals is a little too much,’ Hogg tweeted.
‘Cricket is not baseball. It’s enough the changes in formats to tamper with the terminology!’
But the ECB are set to make several controversial moves, changing the term ‘wickets’ to ‘outs’
Another agreed that cricket should not be aligned with baseball, having not been sold on the tournament initially, adding: ‘I wasn’t a***d about the hundred, but this tips me over the edge. It’s not baseball!!!’
One other user sarcastically added the ECB’s next move will be to rename the sport, adding: ‘Probably rename the game to Baseball as well. Ridiculous in the name of innovation.’
Others slammed the body’s use of market research and sarcastically claimed newcomers won’t be able to understand what a wicket is, claiming cricket’s terminology is also a test of intelligence.
One wrote: ‘Cricket fans, so in the new Hundred competition, the ECB wants to replace the word ‘wickets’ with ‘outs’ – like in baseball.
‘The idea is based on market research coz people can’t understand what a wicket is. Stop it ECB. Cricket is not just a game, it’s an intelligence test.’
However, many other outspoken pundits have offered little on the changes despite their often outspoken views on Twitter.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan replied to the news with the words ‘Like it,’ followed by two thumbs up emojis and a wink face emoji.
He did remain somewhat coy however, following his initial tweet up by posing the question to his followers: ‘So it’s going to be ‘Outs’ rather than ‘wickets’ for the #Hundred tournament !!! What do we all think ? Too much change or pretty cool ??’
One cricket fan however did not mince his words when replying to Vaughan, stating: ‘Hundred tournament will be a complete failure.. mark these words.’
Nevertheless, others appeared to suggest the controversial introduction of the new terms will not curb their excitement for the inaugural tournament later this summer.
One added: ‘I’m looking forward to The Hundred. I’m not OK with ‘outs’. I feel better for sharing that.’
The Hundred has already scrapped traditional six-ball overs and instead there will be 10 balls from an end, delivered by one or two bowlers, before a switch to the other end and a clock counting down from a hundred balls.