Cricket pitches need to be more bowler-friendly if the rising imbalance between bat and ball is to be addressed, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar has said.
The MCC world cricket committee on Tuesday recommended limitations on the thickness and depth of bats amid concerns that the sport had tilted heavily in favour of batsmen in recent years.
A report commissioned by the MCC, the guardian of the game's laws, in 2014 found the thickness of bats had marginally increased in the past century and that edges had broadened by 300 per cent, meaning even mistimed shots could still find the boundary.
Tendulkar, who quit international cricket in 2013 as the game's most-prolific batsman, both in Tests and the 50-over format, demanded more assistance for bowlers from the playing surface.
"The wickets need to change; they need to be more helpful for bowlers," Tendulkar said.
"In T20s, the greatest of bowlers are being reverse-swept. Three-hundred is no longer competitive in ODIs.
"So there should be at least one format where bowlers have a better chance of executing their skills and making it more interesting for spectators.
"I don't think it's got much to do with bats, but I'm sure people on the (relevant) panel will be able to look into it."
Tendulkar's views echoed the sentiments of Australian opener David Warner who said last week that flat pitches rather than bats with thicker edges were the reason batsmen had the upper hand in Test cricket.
Tendulkar was part of the panel that recommended Anil Kumble for the Indian coaching job and he expected the team to benefit from the vast experience of the former legspinner.
"A fabulous player, a hard competitor and will not make any compromises on the field," Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo.
"He will be out there to win each and every moment.
"He played for almost 20 years, so there is plenty to share. I'll just tell the players to grasp as much information from Anil as possible."
Kumble, who came out to bowl with a bandaged jaw in a 2002 Antigua Test, could also teach the players how to handle adversity, said Tendulkar.
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