Twenty20 - the future of Youth Cricket
It is really curious that the cricket establishment has behaved as though the Twenty20 from of the game is an inferior product without the skills required for a real cricket match. It has been viwed as a second class part of the game. Well, what I would ask is - what do most of us play? We are not professional cricketers who can languish in the turgid full days of a county match. We love our sport, but play the most played version of the game – 20 overs aside in the evenings after work. This game is the game of the people and yet the cricketing authorities just don’t get it.
Twenty20 cricket has created excitement in in cricket matches particularly among young people. Its always exciting to play, but now its quite good to watch, you don’t need a full day to enjoy the game – 3 hours and it is done, just like the evening games that so many of us currently play.The first ICC Twenty20 world cup, played in South Africa last year was testimony to the fact that this form of cricket is popular and more entertaining than a 50-50 overs one day international. Its instant gratification which fits for our youth culture
It started in the United Kingdom for county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB), in the year 2003. Muttiah Muralitharan, (who is a chucker) and the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history said the Twenty20 is here to stay and is the future of the game. Of course any cricketer would tell you, Test cricket is the ultimate. Who in these busy times can spare five days to watch a Test match. We need entertainment and Twenty20 provides it.
Only 40 million people watched the Twenty20 World Cup Final, compared with 260 million for the last football world cup final, it’s a long way to go but at least there is a product that is taking cricket forward.
Of course, there is a danger that Test cricket would be damaged, both by the popularity of the format and by the different skills needed. It has not happened yet and anything that makes the sport more popular among youth and everyone else must be welcome.
