For a brief moment, we faced the nightmare of a summer without a ball being bowled, such was the acrimony in the cricket pay dispute.
Industrial conflict in the game is nothing new. Historical parallels have been drawn, but unlike the Big 6 from 1912 or the World Series Cricket rift, the modern player has employment options not afforded to their predecessors.
The lucrative T20 circuit is gaining legitimacy as a genuine professional alternative to Test cricket.
Twenty20, once a curiosity, has evolved into a sophisticated body of serious standing. The tipping point inches closer, where the form is a career choice in its own right, rather than an addendum to representing your country.
To what extent though, is T20 approaching parity of prestige?
Batting coach Trent Woodhill remarked on Twitter that T20 is the purest form of cricket. When I asked him to clarify, he replied:
“Without question. Every skill under pressure during every match moment plus crowd pressure, which is no longer experienced during longer forms.”
[latest_videos_strip category=”cricket” name=”Cricket”]
There’s much to admire about Trent’s approach to batting, and his influence on David Warner, Steve Smith, AB de Villiers et al is testament to his approach of testing technique under pressure, as opposed to reinventing how one bats.
But the purest form of cricket? It’s enough to upset the purists.
If pressure is the focal point of cricket purism, then we must consider it in all its forms.
How do you countenance crowd pressure in a T20 game or the need to score off every ball, with say an Ashes series on the line?
Edgbaston 2005. Adelaide 1993. Sydney 1994. If only a handful of people were there, would Michael Kasprowicz or Craig McDermott or Damien Martyn have felt any less pressure? Yes, Test cricket has attendance concerns, but the weight of the nation does not diminish.
There’s no denying T20 is relentless, but aided by power plays and over limits, there are degrees of respite. And there’s a lot of it.
In the context of five days and 400-plus overs, time management is far more integral to outcomes. Key moments are magnified. But further to that, we look at these moments not only in the context of the match, but in the context of history.
That Test match cricket has been going for 140 years is proof we care. And this entrenched meaning adds another layer to a player’s self-efficacy.
Talent gets you opportunity, but mental strength sustains you. If purity is pressure then Test cricket remains the sport’s purest form.
Bugo
Guest
Agreed. A competitive test match can still by far offer the most exhilerating and gripping viewing. Also, i do understand the sentiments of the article, however for me, the purest form of cricket is in a backyard at a family gathering with all the fielders with a beer in hand and a toddler at the feet. Or on a beautiful day on a low tide beach with a tennis ball, an esky as stumps and some classic catches into the water.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
tick, tick, tick. I agree, and well said. no value on your wicket, no value as a bowler, and no value to a match, there is always tomorrow. The exact opposite of why I love cricket so much.
Julian King
Roar Guru
With a standardised tennis ball half taped with gaffer or electrical tape.
DavSA
Guest
What our kids want and what is good for them are usually not the same thing.
DavSA
Guest
What our kids want and what is good for them are usually not the same thing.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Don't underestimate its resilience. People have signalled the death of test cricket for years now. Look at Adelaide and Melbourne this Ashes series and tell me it doesn't have a future. Having said that, I think the players need to do more to protect its sanctity.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Yes. We tend to look at this from the batsman's perspective. Bat technology has increased the margin for error where mishits go for boundaries. A form of the game designed to maximise runs (short boundaries, power plays) is, if anything, bastardised. This is not to say test cricket does not evolutions to contend with, but you would never see a wicket like Pune in a T20 match.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Backyard cricket should have organized leagues like other forms of the game. Maybe even a national Backyard Cricket Cup like the FFA Cup.
The Fatman
Guest
Your grandparents said the same thing about the Beatles. And your parents said the same thing about Punk Music. Generations change. And things die.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Electric wicket keeper DLKN. No margin for error for the batsman if they edge. That'll teach them to middle the ball.
DLKN
Guest
Actually, the purest form of cricket is backyard cricket. I present as evidence: - No lbw - No TV umpire or referral to mum or dad - No umpires at all - If the dog catches the ball, you're out - Break a window, you're out (but also a legend) - No pads, gloves or other protective gear - Over the fence = six and out - No such thing as a no ball - One hand, one bounce = out - No actual cricket balls - only tennis balls - When you reach 50, you retire or switch to the opposite hand - Run-outs decided by popular acclaim - Doctoring of the ball not only legal, but encouraged I'm sure others can add to this list.
Savage
Roar Rookie
" I can remember the details of at least 20-30 significant tests from my lifetime, but not many T20 games" Exactly no one Remembers who won last year ipl,cpl,bbl or T20 intl matches.
Duncan Smith
Guest
By far the most succinct rebuttal of the proposition so far.
matth
Guest
Well it's the purest form of something ... Actually the purest form of cricket is Single Wicket, played with a block of wood, two stumps and underarm bowling. But that's another story.
JGK
Roar Guru
I'd say T20 has the least pressure. As a batsman there is little fear of getting out because wickets are rarely the scarce commodity for the batting side - it is balls. So you are pretty free to play and shot you want in the interests of scoring quickly. And bowlers are expected to be tonked so what do they care. And best of all, there are so many games that if you stuff up today, there is always tomorrow.
Duncan Smith
Guest
Kids like McDonalds, free music, T20, basketball, and hip hop. If this is the future. I'm glad I'll be dead soon along with test cricket.
AGordon
Guest
Interesting that there is no comment from any bowlers about cricket being the purest form of the game - because it isn't and can't be. The sport is supposed to be a contest between bat and ball but is deliberately geared so the bat dominates, eg bowling restrictions, fielding restrictions, ovals reduced in size, etc. T20 is the purest form of "manufactured" cricket, clearly made for television. It's a sad indictment on the game that a match can be won if both sides bowl 5 overs! Not sure how that could be considered "pure". Seems like complete rubbish to me.
The Fatman
Guest
Test cricket is almost dead. If it wasn't for traditions; it would be gone by now. T20 is by far what the kids of today want. In between looking at basketball in their ipads.
AREH
Roar Guru
T20 could well be the purest form but test cricket is still the ultimate form.
DLKN
Guest
There is no longer a "pure" form of cricket. That would require an even contest between the bat and the ball / fielding side. Bat technology, roped-in boundaries (many excessively so), flat pitches, much more sensitivity to playing in poor light or drizzle, the high visibility of the white ball at night, more vigilance about treatment of the ball - all designed to make life easier for batsmen. In my opinion, some of these reasons are why today's test batting averages are around 10 or so runs higher than they would be in any other era. Flat-track bullies abound. Just watch some of the so-called 'great' players look clueless when the ball starts to hoop around. T20 is the form least like an even contest. The other forms are also skewed in favour of the batsman, but none to the extent that T20 has managed. Test cricket remains easily the closest to pure cricket, but it's a long way short of where it used to be.