The Ranji Trophy needs a change in its knock-out format and points system
Its important to make the teams try to win it and not just try not to lose it
Sachin Tendulkar made an extremely valid point about neutral venues for the knock-out fixtures in the Ranji Trophy. He rightly opined that it takes away the ‘home advantage’ factor which is such an important aspect of cricket. While that will surely increase the excitement level in the moribund Ranji Trophy, there are other changes that the BCCI needs to look at.
But, before I suggest the changes and provide an argument in favour of them, let’s look at the format of the domestic game in Australia, England and South Africa, which without a doubt serve up a more engrossing fare and hence are eminently more watchable. The quality of the pitches has a role to play in it, but fundamentally the format is designed to encourage more aggressive cricket.
Australia
In Australia, teams play a home and away round-robin format. These are 4 day games. The top two teams contest a 5 day final. The top team gets to host the final and wins the trophy in case the match ends in a draw/tie.
Points System
Result Points
A win (irrespective of the first innings result – 6
A tie (irrespective of the first innings result – 3
A first innings lead in a drawn or lost match – 2
A first innings tie in a drawn or lost match – 1
A loss on the first innings – 0
An outright loss after being behind on the first innings – 0
Abandoned or drawn matches with no first innings result – 0
It is important to note that even in the case that a team loses the match after gaining the first innings lead , they still get 2 points, which is the same number they would have got, had the match ended in a draw. Obviously teams will be encouraged to go for a win and six points without fear of losing the 2 points. Also a win get you thrice as many points a draw. There is no semi-final round so teams have to finish in the top 2. There is no reward for playing safe. Teams have to go for the jugular.
England
In England, there is a two-tiered system with promotion and relegation. Matches are all 4 day games. Teams player each other once and the winner is the team with maximum points.
Points System
Result Points
Win - 14 + bonus points
Tie – 7 + bonus points
Draw - 4 + bonus points
Loss - Bonus points
Bonus points are collected for batting and bowling. These points can only be obtained from the first 130 overs of each team’s first innings. The bonus points are retained regardless of the outcome of the match
Again as in Australia, teams don’t lose bonus points if they take a risk to go for a win instead of settling for a draw. A win is worth 3 and half times a draw so the rewards for aggressive cricket are very high. County teams have often been known to make outrageous declarations and sometime forfeit an innings each by mutual consent to get a result. Nobody gains by a draw. And again, as there is no play-off, there is no reward for finishing second. There is no room for safety tactics. Even the bonus points can only be garnered in the first 130 overs – so teams have to bat or bowl aggressively in the first innings – and that sets an attacking tone for the rest of the match.
South Africa
In South Africa, a franchisee system was adopted for the domestic competition, the SuperSport Series, in 2004-05, with an aim of creating stronger teams for a higher standard of competition. The teams play 4 day games in a round-robin format and the one with the highest points emerges the winner.
Points System
Teams get 10 points for a win and zero if they draw or lose. Bonus points are awarded for batting and bowling in the first 100 overs of each team’s first innings of the match. The first batting point is awarded when the team reaches 150 and then 0.02 points for each further run made within 100 overs. Bowling points are awarded at 3,5,7 and 9 wickets within 100 overs (a maximum of 4).As in England, these points are retained irrespective if the final result of the match.
In the South African model, there is absolutely no reward for safe cricket. Teams have to attack from ball one to garner as many bonus points, which can add up to 10 or 11 in a single game, which is as much as you would get for a win. And drawing a game will really push you down the table, where only the top position counts for something.
Now for the Indian model.
We have eight teams qualifying for a knock-out round. And then knock-out games are played in neutral venues. In the knock-out round, if there is no result, the team with the first innings lead is declared the winner. If teams haven’t completed at least one inning, then the team with the better net scoring rate is declared winner.
Points System
Result Points
Win Outright – 5
1st Innings Lead – 3*
No Result – 1
1st Innings Deficit – 1*
Lost Outright – 0
Note – * Only if match ends in a draw.
Bonus Point (for innings and 10 wicket wins) -1
See the difference
In the Ranji Trophy
What is the risk of playing aggressive cricket and trying for a win – you could lose 3 points or 1 point and left with 0 depending on whether you had the first innings lead or not. Which is lot when you are just trying to finish in the top 4
What is the reward for playing aggressive cricket and scoring at a fast rate or setting aggressive fields to take more wickets – nothing
How much more rewarding is a win as compared to a draw with a first innings lead – 5 points against 3. Not even twice as worth
Are teams really going all out for maximum points – No. Because they are just trying to finish in the top 4.
Is there any advantage gained by finishing first in the group – No. Because you don’t get home field advantage. And unlike Australia, having more points in the previous stage doesn’t offer any extra benefits in the case of a draw.
What is the best a team can expect from a game – Most of the times its 3 points because pitches are flat and no result comes out in 4 days.
What is the best way to ensure you make the quarterfinal round – Get as many three pointers as possible. Which means as many first innings leads as possible. You will have enough to be in the top 4 because anyways nobody else is trying to win.
What is the best way to win knock-out games – Get the first innings lead and then play for a draw. Again this strategy is helped by lifeless pitches.
So what needs to be done?
Bonus points for batting and bowling performance in the first innings. And these should be substantial enough to force teams to play aggressively. And these points can be earned irrespective of the match result. Do away with the fear of losing
Do away with at least one level of the knockout stage if not two levels. This will necessitate teams to become more aggressive and go for more points in every game as third and fourth won’t be good enough. This rule combined with the next one, (more points for wins) will completely change the outlook of teams. The group matches will become more important and competition for places will heat up
More points for a win as compared to what teams get for a draw. One win should be more than two draws. So, if you try to win twice and end up doing it even once, you get more than what you would have got, had you not tried.
At least the knock –out games should be five days. That ways you ensure that there is always enough time for a result. And as we are doing away with one round of games, there will be enough time to do that.
Do away with the first innings lead rule. Have the Australian system where the team with more points in the preliminary round is declared winner in case of a draw or tie. This will further increase the importance of group games. As there is enough time (5 days) for a result, the team with more points cannot afford to play for a draw. Also award notional points (including bonus ones) for the knock-out games, which will be taken into consideration if the final ends in a draw or a tie. That way teams will be motivated to play attacking cricket in the semis also and not take a defensive approach.
The case for home advantage has already been made by Sachin Tendulkar. It will be a self –fulfilling win-win for attacking sides. The more they win, the more points they will get and the more chances they will have of getting home conditions. Also if they have home conditions, the more likely they are to use it to their advantage to get more points and more wins.
It is important that we realize that these suggestions need to looked at as a complete package and not just standalone. The full impact will only be realized if at least most of them, if not all, are implemented
It will also help if the quality of pitches was improved and we could get more participation from the international stars. But even without that, these changes in the structure of the Ranji Trophy will completely change the way the game is played at the domestic level. There will no longer be a fear of losing. Instead there will just be extra motivation to win. It will spawn a culture of playing aggressively to win the game and not defensively in trying not to lose it. The changed mindset will soon manifest itself at the international stage and change the approach of the national side as well. Indian cricket has everything to gain from these changes. Hope the BCCI is listening?
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