'Save the art of reverse swing' - Waqar Younis offers unique suggestion to ICC

Pakistan fast-bowling legend Waqar Younis raised the topic of reverse swing as a dying art in modern-day white-ball cricket and gave a unique suggestion to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reinvigorate the lost skill in the One-Day Internationals format. 

Following the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 in India very closely, Waqar would've been warmed by the balanced nature of surfaces that have brought varied skills and player qualities to the fore. However, the pace great, who was renowned for prodigious reverse swing with his slingy action, believes the art he mastered is an element missing. 

Ever since the introduction of two new white balls at each end for the entirety of a 50-over innings back in late 2012, the reverse swing has nearly fallen out of the equation in the format, with the traditional skill requiring wear-off on one side of the ball for it to create contrast turbulence during air-travel.

With batting and power-hitting numbers on the rise, former cricketers have regular expressed their worry for the bowlers and urged the game's custodians to revisit the cricket ball and the playing regulations. 

• Waqar Suggests Unique Ploy To Revive Reverse Swing 

The legendary Sachin Tendulkar had once called the dying art of reverse swing a "recipe for disaster" as far as high-scoring matches are concerned. 

Waqar has now come up with an interesting ploy to revive the traditional skill by saying the two new-ball rule shall cease to exist after the 30th over of the innings and one of the two balls in play should continue to be used until the end of the innings. 

"ODI cricket is too friendly for batters Suggestion @ICC 2 new balls to start, take away 1 ball after 30 overs, continue with the other. At the end that ball will only be 35 overs old. We’ll see some reverse at the end. Save the art of #ReverseSwing," Waqar tweeted. 

The shining hard white ball at the fag end of the innings makes it significantly easier for batting sides to disrupt the bowling plans and smash fours and sixes with unprecedented regularity. Reverse swing used to be the bowling team's biggest weapon in response to power-hitting at the death, with Waqar being one of the most devastating practitioners of the art.