Are bowlers becoming 'endangered species'?

With batsmen raining fours and sixes of late, former Australia captain Ian Chappell says there's a chance of bowlers becoming an endangered species if the trend for heavier bats and shorter boundaries continues.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell said we can no longer blame the bowlers for thinking that they are being served up as cannon fodder for the pampered batsmen.

"In second ODI between India and Australia," he said, "64 per cent of runs scored off the bat were accumulated in boundaries. Singles accounted for around 28 per cent of the scoring -- majority of which would have been at the easier end of the scale, with the infielders back on the 30-yard circle -- and about 43 per cent of the deliveries were dot balls.

"This means a reduced reliance on fielding and running between the wickets -- two of the more exciting skills in the game."

He said bowlers need to be offered a crumb in the shorter forms of the game or they would revolt, as they have done in the past using extreme methods like Bodyline and chucking.

Life is certainly tough for seam bowlers and spinners alike in the modern game, as highlighted during the ongoing entertaining India-Australia One-day series, the report said.