When the 50-50 game in cricket was introduced, critics had not foreseen the swinging times of the ODIs. And though the cricketing world continues to enjoy 50-50, here’s a new challenge — 20-20. With the BCCI giving the ‘go ahead’ to 20-20 cricket even at the domestic level, the quick flying version of the game may just prove to be the next big thing.
So, are we ready to fasten our seat belts for cricket excitement which may not last the whole day long?
The entertainer
Former cricketer Maninder Singh says: “It’s all about entertaining the crowd. People don’t have time to sit glued for over six hours.”
Wicket keeper/ batsman MS Dhoni concurs, “There will be more entertainment for the spectators as more fours and sixes will be hit in the shorter version of the game.”
Bollywood actress Amrita Arora, who is dating one of the 20-20 cricket stars, Usman Afzal, feels, “The game is short and sweet and very exciting, it’s like edge-of-the-seat fare and I enjoy all the more when my boyfriend is playing.”
The critics
It seems the twenty-twenty version of the game will also help lift domestic cricket which is often at the receiving end of audience apathy. But it has its detractors too.
Says Singh, “The shorter version is not going to help the technique of the game; the quality might get affected. As this form will favour the batsmen more than the bowlers, very soon you might have batsmen turning into bowlers by just turning the ball a little.”
{{/usCountry}}Says Singh, “The shorter version is not going to help the technique of the game; the quality might get affected. As this form will favour the batsmen more than the bowlers, very soon you might have batsmen turning into bowlers by just turning the ball a little.”
{{/usCountry}}Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu too isn’t very positive. “You’ll not be able to judge a player’s ability in the shorter version of the game — Test cricket is the root and 20-20 is just the branch.”
Be it 20-20 or 50-50 as long as the likes of MS Dhoni wash the opposition with their bat, the Indians are sure going to love it.