Limited-overs cricket a batsman's game, bowlers second-class citizens: Bond

Change in fielding restrictions in last 10 overs has eased only a little bit of pressure on bowlers

"Bowlers are pretty much second-class citizens in white-ball cricket," says former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond, who feels odds are stacked heavily against them in the limited-overs format.

Writing for the International Cricket Council ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in England starting June 1, Bond said limited-overs cricket is "a batsman's game".

"And it isn't merely the fast bowlers, who have their task cut out. The change in fielding restrictions in the last 10 overs of a one-day international has eased the pressure on the bowlers but only by a little bit," he said.

Bond said it is this imbalance which has led to spinners using negative tactics.

"The slow bowlers specifically are resorting to a more negative line of bowling, not because they want to but because they have to," he said.

"In an era gone by, the pattern was to tee-off in the first 15 overs, build through the middle of the innings and then launch a final onslaught. That philosophy has now gone out the window," he explained.

Bond said bowlers cannot do without variety in the current scenario where every alternate game ends up being a run feast.

Talking about the need to use the weapon judiciouswly, he also said,"You must have the ability to change the length - bowl the yorker, yes, but also use the bouncer, the slower ball, the length ball."

Bond said bowlers in modern cricket should mix it up to make it difficult for the batsman to settle down.

"As a bowler, you must be prepared to bowl different lengths at the death so that when you do bowl the yorker, it must come as a little bit of a surprise."

"I keep telling the bowlers to not be shy of bowling a bouncer, to have a field that creates doubt. At the end of the day, it not so much about the outcome; it is important to see how the bowlers have got their wickets at the death," he said.

"What do you do when a David Warner or a Virat Kohli comes hard at you?" he signed off.