Holding fort during the dull phase

No part of ODI cricket has been tinkered with as much as the middle overs

- Somshuvra Laha

Alterations have kicked in every few years or so but broadly there have been three changes in field restriction rules.

At first, only two fielders were allowed outside the 30-yard circle for the first 15 overs, and then five fielders for the rest of the innings.

Then in 2005, the fielding restrictions were split into three blocks the mandatory first 10 overs, followed by two five-over power plays at the discretion of the bowling and batting teams when only three players could be kept outside the circle. From 2015, the overs were broken up as 10-30-10, with a maximum of two, four and five fielders outside the circle in each phase.

The middle overs were traditionally used by batters to go into grafting mode, accumulating risk-free runs dissecting a spreadout field. Bowling sides, too, used to concentrate on stemming the boundaries. Not anymore.

To counter the problem of the white ball getting discoloured around the 30 over-mark, the ICC introduced new balls from both ends in 2011.

Reverse swing was lost in the process, and many spinners struggled with their grip. More significantly, the ball stayed hard.