New ODI rules will encourage positive cricket at 2015 World Cup: Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid says the new ODI rules will lead to positive cricket at the World Cup

Former India captain Rahul Dravid expressed his dissatisfaction with the format for the 2015 World Cup, which results in the initial stages of the tournament being too long and largely predictable in his view. However, the new ODI rules, which weren’t in existence during the previous edition of the World Cup, should help bring about some aggressive cricket, according to the former No.3 batsman.

Apart from two new balls being used from each end, this World Cup will also see 5 fielders being placed outside the 30-yard circle at all times during an innings for the first time.

"With the two new balls, the fast bowlers will get that level of assistance up front. The grounds are bigger too so it won't be that easy to clear the ropes. I think it will be a challenge for the captains. For example, when you have five fielders in the ring, it's very hard to play a part-time bowler," Dravid said.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, he added: "You are almost being forced to play five specialist bowlers. That is a real positive. You are going to be forced to attack and look for wickets rather than see part-timers bowl for a large period of play."

Spinners will also come into play: Dravid

Regarding the role spinners will play on seemingly unfriendly pitches in Australia and New Zealand, Dravid remarked: "Those are the grounds we are going to be playing the World Cup in. They have been really slow and the spinners have come into play. You are just going to have to balance it out.

“There might be places where you go and say, the spinner might not have such a big impact on that particular day.

"It's a long tournament, it's in their summer, the nature of the wickets might change, you are just going to have to be smart enough and hopefully have the balance to play different conditions and different kinds of attacks.”