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Twenty20 is ruining 'true' cricket

Roar Guru
15th January, 2009
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Roar Guru
15th January, 2009
7
1825 Reads

The Australia cricketing community are flocking to their nearest venue to behold this so called wonder known as Twenty20 cricket.

I have no issues with the induction of this form of cricket, if you can indeed call it that. But the widespread support for this shorter version to take place as the dominant form of cricket is a concept I can’t get my head around.

In 1977, Kerry Packer made a bold move in the context of cricketing history when he introduced a game that revolutionised the sport forever.

One Day cricket was born.

This scheme made limited over cricket very attractive for the younger generation.

Packer took a risk that paid dividends. But with the induction of One day cricket, Test Matches were still governed as the primary contest.

Test cricket today predominantly attracts genuine cricket fanatics.

Twenty20, on the other hand, appeals to those who believe Test cricket is boring, and others who like seeing batsman playing unorthodox shots.

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Even the commentators are getting caught up in this saga.

Poor old Herschelle Gibbs struggled to take any initiative as the Australia bowlers persisted with good and length delivers. Gibbs left alone a great delivery from Bracken, almost as a sign of respect to the quality of the ball.

Countryman Tony Greig, in utter disbelief, laid down the law that in Twenty20 you “must not leave the ball.”

Batsman are coming out to face and supposedly having to hit every good length ball for six. This is not cricket.

To those people who applaud Twenty20 cricket and its quest to dissolve Test Cricket, you enjoy your bout of “hit and giggle,” but let the rest of us enjoy the real cricket in peace.

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