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Ashwin disagrees with Manjrekar's call to remove 'free hit', suggests 'free ball' for the bowlers instead

Undoubtedly, cricket today is heavily titled in favour of the batsmen. In a bid to strike a balance, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar called for the removal of free hot from the game.

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Sky247 Staff
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Undoubtedly, cricket is heavily tilted in favour of the batsmen today. In a bid to strike a balance, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar called for the removal of free hit from the game. However, ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin disagrees with Manjrekar's suggestion and believes that it is a "great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of the fans". Instead, he suggested that a free ball should be given every time a non-striker leaves the crease before the ball is bowled, adding that if the bowler takes a wicket on that ball, 10 runs should be reduced from the bowler's analysis and the total.

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"Come on @sanjaymanjrekar, free hit is a great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of all the fans. Let's add a free ball for the bowlers every time a batter leaves the-strikers end early, a wicket of that ball will reduce 10 runs of the bowlers analysis and total."

In another tweet, he added: "Remember: "you are supposed to leave the crease only after the ball leaves the hand."

Ashwin was responding to a tweet from Sanjay Manjrekar where he proposed the removal of free hit.

"Hi guys, tell me what you think about some aspects of the game mentioned in this column that have me peeved a little bit. Also let me know what rule changes you would make to better your viewing experience. Will retweet the interesting ones."

Ashwin is currently undergoing quarantine in Mumbai and will fly to England with other members of the men's and women's team on June 2. India will take on New Zealand in the summit clash of the World Test Championship in Southampton before crossing swords with hosts, England in a  five-match Test series.

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