An Int'l Cricket Council ploy to "strike a fairer balance between bat and ball for this month's World Cup could fall short," according to Sam Landsberger of the HERALD SUN. ICC CEO David Richardson said that "boundary ropes would be pushed back" to 82.3 meters from the center of the pitch at "all venues where possible to reduce the number of mis-hits and poor shots soaring for six." But the Melbourne Cricket Ground -- which will host the final -- will be "unable to accommodate those dimensions." There are 14 World Cup venues and the "seven being used in New Zealand are traditionally smaller than Australia." Cricket Australia safety regulations state the boundary rope "must sit at least three yards" 2.74 meters from any hard object, "while pyrotechnics had to be placed at least 4m from spectators" in Big Bash League games (HERALD SUN, 2/4).
EJECTION UNDER INVESTIGATION: In Sydney, Andrew Wu reported cricket officials in New Zealand ejected a fan "suspected of pitchsiding last weekend at a one-day international in Wellington." The spectator was "thrown out after being spotted by cameras during the first one-day game between New Zealand and Pakistan." ICC anti-corruption unit (ACSU) Chair Ronnie Flanagan will on Friday "outline the body's anti-corruption measures at this year's World Cup." There reportedly will be "at least two anti-corruption officers attending each of the 49 matches in the tournament," which starts on Feb. 14 and finishes on March 29. Policies for all bilateral matches "have also been discussed" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/5).
