Game changers

While the world goes gaga for the fifth version of the iPhone, let's look at some proposals in a few games that are set to change the way they are played and viewed. Spectator interest has become paramount in these days of obscene production rights and players certainly take back stage while redesigning the laws of sport. A small price to pay for the big pie they partake in the television stakes cake I guess.

Starting with tennis, the time violation rules for the server have been altered to call a fault instead of a point loss for a second infringement. This should certainly embolden the umpires to enforce the law and make the delay between points shorter. With so many matches going past the four hour mark, this should certainly help in reducing the number of yawns on tennis courts. 

Also in line is the suggestion to consider a net cord on the serve that lands in, a valid serve. Though this would be enforced only for challengers for now, I wouldn't be surprised to see it in the slams in a year. Time for the pros to start practicing let serves I guess.

Goal line technology has been a hot topic of debate in the soccer fraternity. With tennis adopting the hawk eye with such alacrity, there are calls for use of more technology on the football pitch. Sepp argues that soccer is a much more fluid sport than tennis and this would only slow down the pace of the game. But with scoring a goal becoming a rarer commodity by the day, disallowing one just because the linesman did not spot it wouldn't cut ice for long. 

Hockey has been a sport that has embraced changes at a breath taking pace. While doing away with the offside rule sparked a goal rush, the job of the defenders is set to become more difficult with a touch inside the D that lands inside the goal considered valid. You would now see the rampant forwards try to force goals some way away from the D using the attempted interceptions from defenders as a tool. Not bad for  me to watch on the tube I say.

 Cricket has already adopted two white balls at either end for one day games and a change in the period where power plays may be taken. Helps the bowlers a bit in the otherwise lopsided sport favoring the batters.  No runners for batsmen should be applauded as a move in the right direction to stop every little niggle becoming a reason for letting someone else do the running for you. Only if the five day version could be fine tuned a bit to entice more eye balls.