Cricket pundits and conservatives backs on Test Cricket and Market Researchers and Demand forecasting experts back fast food cricket 20-20 and in between some believe that ODI is right balance between the two . But what form of cricket among these three will survive ?
To me if ICC play their cards well ,all three forms can have their role keeping their individual identity Alive....
Test Cricket has always maintained its identity in any circumstances .such questions were also raised when ODI was invented and it become popular but for true cricket lovers test cricket was always best and real form of cricket. Actually these other form of cricket always compliments test cricket as people who get saturated of other form of cricket would like to watch real test .Occasions when batsman survives and fights out when track is green ,hard and is seaming ,swinging or when it is dust bowl and ball is turning square or bouncy are always the best moments of cricket .similar are moments when a bowler bowls a great spell with hard effort on any lifeless wicket . Still records for test cricket matters more than any form of game .
For 20-20 cricket i believe ICC has done right thing in putting limitation for any country to play the no of 20-20 matches to around 4-5 a year. I think with IPL ,Standford 20 20, ICL and other such league tournaments 20-20 can be on perfectly modelled on lines of football and should be m left mostly for club form of cricket .If success comes true for IPL who knows Delhi daredevils or Mumbai Indians can be future Real Madrid or Manchester United of football .This form of cricket played predominantly in Club form as 20-20 will keep it as separate identity as International-club form of cricket with others being International-Nations form of cricket.People will love to see Mixed teams of players of different countries playing against each other in small format though it will not be same for longer versions as we have seen in afro asians cup or super series .That's why ICC should promote other nations like Pak ,NZ SA and others to develop their own Professional clubs.Here even cricket-weak countries like Holland,Canada,Malaysia can come up with their professional clubs style and with good players from other countries playing in these clubs,they will be strong enough to compete with clubs of Cricket-Strong countries .It will one of the bast use of globalization in cricket.This will only promote and popularise cricket in non test playing nations with 20-20 club excitement . Personally 4-5 years down the line i will love see matches played between Rajasthan Royals vs Yorkshire or Karachi fighters and Kolkata Knight Riders vs say Toronto/Amsterdam Warriors .England who already have Professional club system just need revamp it to come up the ranks for modern 20-20 club style .For nation 20-20 International apart from 3-4 friendly matches per year 20-20 worldcup once in 2 or 4 years will be a major event like FIFA world cup and football friendlies.
If 20-20 could establish itself as club cricket then ODI will better continue as nation form of cricket giving essence of both test and 20-20 forms as it has been in last 3 decades .
To me if ICC play their cards well ,all three forms can have their role keeping their individual identity Alive....
Test Cricket has always maintained its identity in any circumstances .such questions were also raised when ODI was invented and it become popular but for true cricket lovers test cricket was always best and real form of cricket. Actually these other form of cricket always compliments test cricket as people who get saturated of other form of cricket would like to watch real test .Occasions when batsman survives and fights out when track is green ,hard and is seaming ,swinging or when it is dust bowl and ball is turning square or bouncy are always the best moments of cricket .similar are moments when a bowler bowls a great spell with hard effort on any lifeless wicket . Still records for test cricket matters more than any form of game .
For 20-20 cricket i believe ICC has done right thing in putting limitation for any country to play the no of 20-20 matches to around 4-5 a year. I think with IPL ,Standford 20 20, ICL and other such league tournaments 20-20 can be on perfectly modelled on lines of football and should be m left mostly for club form of cricket .If success comes true for IPL who knows Delhi daredevils or Mumbai Indians can be future Real Madrid or Manchester United of football .This form of cricket played predominantly in Club form as 20-20 will keep it as separate identity as International-club form of cricket with others being International-Nations form of cricket.People will love to see Mixed teams of players of different countries playing against each other in small format though it will not be same for longer versions as we have seen in afro asians cup or super series .That's why ICC should promote other nations like Pak ,NZ SA and others to develop their own Professional clubs.Here even cricket-weak countries like Holland,Canada,Malaysia can come up with their professional clubs style and with good players from other countries playing in these clubs,they will be strong enough to compete with clubs of Cricket-Strong countries .It will one of the bast use of globalization in cricket.This will only promote and popularise cricket in non test playing nations with 20-20 club excitement . Personally 4-5 years down the line i will love see matches played between Rajasthan Royals vs Yorkshire or Karachi fighters and Kolkata Knight Riders vs say Toronto/Amsterdam Warriors .England who already have Professional club system just need revamp it to come up the ranks for modern 20-20 club style .For nation 20-20 International apart from 3-4 friendly matches per year 20-20 worldcup once in 2 or 4 years will be a major event like FIFA world cup and football friendlies.
If 20-20 could establish itself as club cricket then ODI will better continue as nation form of cricket giving essence of both test and 20-20 forms as it has been in last 3 decades .
With love for cricket - अर्पण चौधरी
