Twenty20 too much?

By Mohit Joshipura 10 December 2007 56 views No Comment

The Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa has been a roaring success, but cricket purists, whose opinions are at best viewed as those of old grandfathers, are still scared of the possible ramifications of this newfound wave of lofty hitting, more adrenaline, and higher TRPs (Television Rating Points).

The problem with Twenty20 cricket is that it adds to the already receding popularity of both the longer versions of the game. When one-day international cricket (ODI) came to the fore in the early 1980s, test cricket’s charisma seemed to be waning and so the former was seen as a breath of fresh air to enthusiasts who were growing weary of warming their couches for the good part of an entire week. In this case though, the powers that be, especially those in the subcontinent and Down Under, are wary of Twenty20’s growth due to the profitability that ODIs still present in these cricket-crazy, big-ticket markets.

The other thorn in the bush comes in the form of the international cricketers themselves, who have already been complaining about the density of their cricketing and travel schedules, which eat into an already scarce amount of family time and cannot possibly be having a positive effect on the longevity of their playing careers. India ’s big three had opted out of the Twenty20 World Cup in advance, citing reasons that centered around fatigue and a desire to focus on the upcoming international bouts with Pakistan and Australia . Up-and-coming players might eventually be forced to choose between the aforementioned forms of the game, and one might not be surprised if more fingers pointed toward this new, moneymaking, endorsement-friendly, and popular form of the sport.

The other, more philosophical concern about the Twenty20 format that is doing the rounds is that it caters primarily (some are brave enough to claim solely) to the entertainment sector, and that the luster, classicism, and romanticism that are associated with Test match cricket (and ODIs to a lesser extent) are being dulled. Foreseeing a future where Test matches, ODIs, and Twenty20 internationals coexist in harmony is being rather quixotic, because it is unfair to expect players to treat the ball like a punching bag for three hours and then come back the next day to give it significantly more respect in an ODI.

But this is a consumer-driven, excitement-hungry, and time-strapped market. All else being equal, blocking the uprising that Twenty20 cricket poses might be very difficult indeed.

Photo Courtesy: Rick212