T20 final
Don’t shout it from the rooftops of the Pavilion at Lords but I’m beginning to warm to the T20s game. I thoroughly enjoyed the finals day yesterday. My visceral dislike of T20s was based largely on attendance at matches where I found the fans boorish, the atmosphere too loud and a night finish incompatible with my retirement hour. However thanks to the Great Rust Debate I switched to staying at home and here I add a twist to the discussion: radio or tv? In the old days you could have both simultaneously but crafty SKYSPORTS ensure the two are not in sync. I opted for the radio yesterday on BBC RADIO 5 SPORTS EXTRA. BBC do not put up the A test team of Jonathan Agnew, Geoff Boycott, stats man Andrew Sansom for those who know the county circuit, Dan Norcross, Charlie Dagnall and with the usual nod to women in the articulate Ebony Rainsford.
The reason I have warmed to T20s is the very reason I did not care for it. Perhaps rather pretentiously, I called Test match a classical concert and T20s a rock concert. But who hums a classical music tune as opposed to a pop song? I began to be enticed by the way a T20 game could suddenly change.
Okay you see grotesque slogging but also fine fielding and, more intriguing, combinations of spin and pace bowling.
Nottinghamshire have had a hell of a season, almost certain to be promoted and now winners of the Royal London Cup and T20s. This is due to Peter Moores as much as the team. He has had success everywhere at Sussex, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. As England coach he brought in and on Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Mooen Ali and Ben Stokes. I am sure he would find the answer to the problem positions of 2,3 and 5. Mind, the three wicket haul in the final for the Birmingham Bears of Chris Woakes shows how much talent we have down the order. Crafty Pargie backed them at 7-1 for the T20s and recommended a modest tickle on winning their two games yesterday which added to a Saturday of enjoyable sport, mercilessly bereft of Premier football, showcasing other sports.
