REVEALED: Traditional cricket terms 'wickets' and 'batsmen' could be replaced with 'outs' and 'batters' in the English game's glitzy new 'Hundred' tournament - because they are TOO COMPLICATED for new fans!
- Hundred bosses are considering changing 'wickets' to 'outs' in the competition
- Changing the term is one of many proposed changes before the new tournament
- Move is likely to spark widespread anger among traditional die-hard supporters
- The Hundred is set to begin in 100 days on July 21 at Surrey's ground, the Oval
The ECB are considering rewriting cricket terminology for their controversial new Hundred competition — with 'wickets' replaced by the baseball term 'outs'.
The move will, according to ECB research using focus groups, make the sport more accessible to the new audience they hope will be attracted to a competition that has its belated launch in July.
That means, according to the Telegraph, a team will be said to have made 72 runs for two 'outs' and a bowler will have taken 21 'outs' rather than wickets over the course of a season.
The Hundred is a new 100-ball franchise cricket tournament set to begin in 100 days on July 21
The format will include England stars including Eoin Morgan (centre) and Jason Roy (right)
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.
Commentators will be encouraged to use the new terminology which will include the gender-neutral term batters.
The fielding position of third man is also under threat.
Sky Sports announced on Monday that Andrew Flintoff will front their coverage of the Hundred and Kevin Pietersen will be among the new commentary faces alongside regulars such as Sportsmail's Nasser Hussain and David Lloyd.
But the ECB are set to make several controversial moves, changing the term 'wickets' to 'outs'
One of the Hundred's star attractions, Ben Stokes had a day to forget in the IPL.
The Rajasthan Royals all-rounder bowled one over for 12 runs before being dismissed for a third-ball duck against Punjab Kings.
Meanwhile, Heather Knight has called for more women's Test cricket after it was confirmed England will play India in a red-ball fixture at the start of this summer's international programme.
Test cricket is a rarity in the women's game outside the Ashes but England captain Knight says it should be the pinnacle.
'T20 is the sport that's going to grow women's cricket around the world but it's really important we keep Test cricket going,' said Knight.
'One of my proudest moments in an England shirt was scoring a Test century.'
Bowlers like Jofra Archer or Moeen Ali (R) could be said to have three outs rather than wickets
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