Wednesday May 16, 2018
ATP: Men’s tour likely to introduce shot clocks and reduced warm-up BBC Sport - Shot clocks and reduced warm-ups appear very likely to be introduced to the ATP Tour - and possibly next season. A number of innovations were trialled at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan last November. First to four game sets, no advantage scoring or service lets and coaching via headsets were among the trials.But it is a 25-second serving clock and a reduced warm-up which players can expect to face on tour in either 2019 or 2020. The shot clock is set to be enforced at a Grand Slam for the first time during this year’s US Open.It was used in Australian Open qualifying and will also be in operation during French Open qualifying this month. Wimbledon, which has opted not to use it this year, says it will adopt a “wait and see” approach. Some leading players have voiced their concerns at the shot clock, with 16-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal particularly unhappy. ATP executive chairman Chris Kermode, speaking at the launch of this year’s Next Gen Finals, said he thinks the proposed changes will happen. “I think that’s a good thing,” he said.“When we first
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The shot clock was trialled at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. (Getty images) started this we never committed to what date we would do any of these, because we needed to take a cautious approach.“I think we can also look at the medical time outs and the toilet breaks, again to speed up play. I think we can get those done quite quickly as well. “When it comes to the scoring of the game, that’s getting into the ethos of the sport and that takes much longer because you do need everyone to buy into this. “I personally loved it: what was incredible was the intensity from point one. But I’m doing this as a collective; I’m not running it as a dicta-
torship. So all the traditionalists don’t need to panic that I am single-handedly going to do this. I personally like it, but we’ve a long long way to go until we do anything else.” The format for the second Next Gen Finals will be almost identical to the first, although the warm-up will be reduced by a further sixty seconds to four minutes, and players will be instructed to use a towel rail at the back of the court. It is hoped this will further speed up play, and reduce the onus on the ball boys and girls to fetch and handle the players’ sweaty towels.
Windies, Bangladesh to face off in Florida T20s ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – West Indies will face Bangladesh in two Twenty20 Internationals on US soil during the home series in July, Cricket West Indies confirmed yesterday.The first T20 International is carded for Warner Park in St Kitts on July 31 before back-to-back matches are played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida on August 4 and 5. News of the US fixtures had come via media reports last weekend. “We are delighted to include the matches Fort Lauderdale on the schedule for the Bangladesh tour,” said CWI chief executive officer, Johnny Grave. “Both matches are scheduled for the weekend and will be played under the lights, so it’s a great opportunity for Windies fans in North America to see the team play
against a very competitive Bangladesh side.” West Indies have won three of the four T20Is at the venue, with the other one ending in a no-result following rain.They swept New Zealand 2-0 back in 2012 before beating India 1-0 when the Asian side toured the Caribbean two years ago.Grave said the continued thrust of staging international cricket in the US was part of CWI’s strategic plan. “This is one of the initiatives outlined in our new Strategic Plan for the period 2018 to 2023,” the Englishman said. “Our intention is to work with ICC Americas members, USA Cricket & Cricket Canada in partnership to establish cricket as a popular sport from North to South America, create opportunities for West Indian fans to watch the team live, and build support for the Windies.”
He continued: “Through this initiative, it will support our strategic objectives to increase the number of people who watch and follow Windies cricket, and help unlock the full potential of the Windies outside of the Caribbean.“We look forward to having West Indians, Bangladeshis and fans of the game from all around the United States coming to join us at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium for the two matches.”Bangladesh tour of the Caribbean starts July 4 and will see them clash with West Indies in two Tests – at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua and Sabina Park in Jamaica. The National Stadium in Guyana will then play hosts to the first two One-Day Internationals of the threematch series with the final match set for Warner Park.