Livingstone calls two bouncers in an over rule as great weapon for bowlers

What’s new in the Indian Premier League, anyway? 

This year, a lot. One of the biggest changes for the bowlers is that they will now be allowed to bowl two bouncers in the over, unlike the one they used to before. That gives a lot of franchises an endless stream of possibilities as both a defensive and an attacking tool. 

Ahead of Punjab’s opening game against Delhi Capitals, English all-rounder Liam Livingstone opined that having two bouncers is a great weapon to have as a bowling unit. 

“Top-edges off bouncers usually go for six anyway, it is obviously a new thing (two bouncers) that has come in. It will definitely be good for certainly for the fielders. It is a great option to have as a bowling unit. Bowlers have complained for some time now, but they have gotten something back in their favour,” Livingstone said ahead of their clash on March 23 (Saturday). 

“It will be interesting to see. The first few games will see what impact it has on the game,” he added. 

Will the new rule have a profound impact on the batters? Not to Livingstone, who insisted that more bouncers means more chances of a top-edge running away to the boundary. 

“I don’t think so, playing a bouncer is what you have to do as a batter anyway. You have to try to find a way to hit a six. It really doesn’t matter, it is our job as a batter to develop the skill set to hit those deliveries,” he added. 

“It will be more effective on the big ground, not sure how many wickets bowlers can take with bouncers on small ground.”

Punjab will be playing their first game at their new home, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Livingstone is hoping that the five to six training sessions that they have had at the venue will help them during their clash. 

“It is a new stadium, we are the lucky ones to have had five-six training sessions. Things are going to be a little different to Mohali. Not too many different faces, we did a lot of good things last year. We kept a lot of people the same. I guess everyone is just excited and ready for the challenge. We obviously have got a new stadium, and we are all excited,” he added. 

Last season, Punjab finished eighth on the points table, with just six wins in the competition. Not a lot has changed in the off-season for the franchise, who have only had a few additions to their setup from last year. Livingstone also reckoned that the franchise is focusing on the positives from the last season. 

“We did a lot of good things last season, we were very close, and we were there for qualification till the last few games. It is more about focusing on the positives than the negatives. We just have to improve upon our last year,” he said. 

“I feel like we have a really good squad and a good environment. We just want to have fun and appreciate that we are in the best league. A lot of people would give a lot to be in our position.”