What is Power Play?

Question

Please give me a easy and detailed answer!

Answer 1

Previously, in ODI's, there were no fielding restrictions. The fielding captain could keep his players anywhere he wanted. Then, around the World Cup in 1996, ICC introduced the 15 over field restriction rule. Only 2 fielders were allowed outside the 30 yard circle from the batsmen for the first 15 overs on an innings. And from the 16th over, 5 fielders were allowed to move out. One more important aspect of that rule was that two fielders had to be in catching positions - 15 yards from the batsmen, till the field restrictions applied.

Now, in mid 2005, ICC - headed by one of the slowest batsman - Sunil Gawaskar came up with some changes in the restriction rule. The previous 15 overs of Field restriction is increased to 20 over - in three blocks, called Power Play.

Power Play 1 - Its mandatory for the first 10 overs of an innings in a one day cricket match. Only two fielders outside 30 yards from the batsmen. And two fielders have to be at catching positions..

Power Play 2 and 3 - These are two blocks of 5 overs each. The fielding captain decides when he wants to employ these two block. The moment he calls for the second power play and the third power play, 5 overs from that particular over will have only two fielders outside the 30 yards circle. A captain can't chose for a power play in the middle on an over. He has to tell the umpire in the starting of an over. For example, if the batting team is scoring freely, he can chose not to take power play after the first 10 overs and set fielders at the boundary. And when he sees that run rate in back in control, he can take power play from that over. It can be from 11th over or 21st over. But he has to take these two blocks within those 40 overs. Otherwise, the last 10 overs will automatically be Power Plays.

Note - No catching fielders required during the Power plays. Only for the first 10 overs of the match.

Answer 2

Powerplay :

1. Fielding side captain has field restriction laws for 15 overs which he can make applicable at any stage of a 50 over Innings.

2. Any powerplay , once applied must go on for 5 continuous overs .

3. This rule previously was said "First 15 Overs" .It was also exploited & hence brought to notice of cricketing world by Sri Lankan Team since World Cup 1996 . Mr. Sanath Jayasuriya's Idea of getting 100 runs in First 15 overs was a game-changing Idea. Since then respect for bowlers has always gone down .

So In new rule bowlers are given Advantages . As Fielding Captain can change field restrictions in various stages , runs can be controlled when better batsmen are at crease or bowler is out of from by removing powerplay . This rule's effectiveness & usefulness depends on fielding side captain's intelligence & ability to set a right strategy .

That's All ! See ya :)

Answer 3

Power Play is the time when only 2 players are a loud outside the circle, the rest of the players have to be inside the circle.