T20 – all for it
Whisper it softly but I am coming round to T20. The two contests between England and South Africa have been enthralling, both going to the final ball. Last night we saw mesmerizing batting from Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Quentin de Kock and Van Dussen before England won by two runs.
I have re-positioned.
It’s not either/or – or even which is the purest form – but two distinct forms of the same game. This is already the actualite.
England T20 players like Jason Roy, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, have been tried as test players but failed.
Only Josh Buttler, who had a poor Test series, and Ben Stokes have mastered both.
Moeen Ali has no inclination to play Test cricket. He has just trousered 150 grand to play for the Multan Sultans in the Pakistani T20 league. It’s no different with South Africa, where Bavuma has only one test century.
Glen Maxwell and Chris Gayle are two more who have nailed their colours to the T20 mast.
Younger players see more opportunities in the international T20 leagues whilst Luke Wright extended his career and earnings withe the Big Bash.
I can also see some interesting career choices and moves.
Ollie Pope has emerged from this tour as our most stylish middle order batter since Ian Bell – will he continue to develop as Test player or white ball one?
Will Josh Buttler lose out on the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour to Ben Foakes, whom I saw score a maiden century there, and is the better keeper? Is David Bairstow’s Test career over?
The purists, amongst whom I numbered myself, hark back to the days of the glorious amateur captain like Ted Dexter – except that he antagonised those very same people withe defensive fields out on the boundary he set when his Sussex won the very first limited over competition- the Gillette Cup – in the early sixties.
What I really noticed last night was the engagement of young kids and women, not normally the core Test support.
In a contest that lasts three hours with a result, it clearly is of more appeal across the age and gender board than the five day Test. This is not to say Test cricket is over or even redundant.
With Pakistan and West Indies this year’s Test visitors there may be less interest, but in 2021 we have the Ashes in Australia.
In November we have the T20 World Cup there and I will be watching avidly. In the meantime I cannot wait for the deciding game of this T20 rubber at Centurion Park this Sunday .
