If
anyone ask cricketers which is their favorite format, the reply will be
Test cricket. It is considered as the purest form of cricket and all the
upcoming and current players have a dream of representing their
respective countries in this version of the game. Whether it is some
powerful cricketing nation or the associate ones, the players from these
countries are always interested in Test cricket. Countries like
India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England and few more are part
of the elite club which got surety of playing five day game but the
same couldn’t be said about Ireland, Netherlands, Afghanistan and few
more. No matter how hard they try, this format will remain a
distinct possibility for them. The smaller teams have gained attention
because of their performances in the bigger events. Ireland was able to
defeat Pakistan in the 2007 cricket World Cup while they repeated their
performance this time against England in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
There have been few more similar stories when it comes to minnows. The
recently concluded T20 World Cup in Bangladesh saw one of the similar
stories. The hero of the story was the Netherlands team which defeated
Ireland, caused problems to New Zealand, had South Africa under trouble
and eventually beat England. The orange outfit got better of England in
the 2009 T20 World Cup as well.
Teams like Ireland, Hong Kong, Nepal and Afghanistan too had their moments in the qualifying round. The point I am trying to make that T20 has given every nation a chance to compete at the highest level. It is useless to say that associate nations are not talented enough to dismantle bigger teams in the slam bang edition of the game. They have already shown that they can win against any strong team if given a chance. The learning curve in Test cricket is too steep for them and they have a wide gap to fill even in the ODIs. The T20 format is not that old and has given everyone a chance of fulfilling their desires. The shortest format of the game has led to the find of some innovative shots and all the budding cricketers of the cricket playing nations are learning them at the same point of time. T20 is an easier sport to master as it requires less time. It is the only reason I believe that Test status shouldn’t be the ultimate goal for the new countries. Test cricket is a dated ambition which is not must to survive in the competitive world. I know playing longer versions like Test cricket and the ODIs will help in the short game skills but even this is not mandatory as there are players who have made their international debuts even before playing a first class game in their respective countries. Krishmar Santokie of the West Indies is the latest example in this list. However, the players from under developed nations in terms of cricketing knowledge should be allowed to play in different T20 leagues of the world. Their cricketing boards along with the ICC should draft a formula wherein their number of players are guaranteed a place in the private T20 events. Indian Premier League is the best T20 event across the globe.
The problem is that the franchises of this league have not paid importance to the players who are from the weaker nations. Their names have popped up in the auctions but the hammer has come down as unsold. It is no more a hidden fact that player from Ireland, Netherlands and other countries are immensely talented in the T20 format. I know it is not easy to order T20 leagues to keep certain slots for the players from the small countries but atleast the idea can be explored. The players from Pakistan and particularly England haven’t been able to participate in different T20 extravaganza due to different reasons which has hampered their progress. England has one of the best and the oldest T20 competition but this is not enough to learn about the playing conditions of the remaining countries. Playing in India will help in developing one’s knowledge about the sub-continent. Aaron Finch, the Australian opener, recently stated that playing with Virender Sehwag has made David Warner a better player.
Sehwag and Warner played together for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. If the associates are not exposed to these leagues, they will start falling behind in the format that gives them a chance of competing with the best. Moreover, the governing body of the Champions League T20 could run a qualifying round in which certain number teams from the associate nations play against each other and the winner is drafted in the main draw. If the administrators are interested in expanding cricket beyond the current limit, T20 is their best chance. It is the only format, which has the capability of taking the competition level to new heights and who knows we could see India getting defeated at the hands of Nepal someday.
Teams like Ireland, Hong Kong, Nepal and Afghanistan too had their moments in the qualifying round. The point I am trying to make that T20 has given every nation a chance to compete at the highest level. It is useless to say that associate nations are not talented enough to dismantle bigger teams in the slam bang edition of the game. They have already shown that they can win against any strong team if given a chance. The learning curve in Test cricket is too steep for them and they have a wide gap to fill even in the ODIs. The T20 format is not that old and has given everyone a chance of fulfilling their desires. The shortest format of the game has led to the find of some innovative shots and all the budding cricketers of the cricket playing nations are learning them at the same point of time. T20 is an easier sport to master as it requires less time. It is the only reason I believe that Test status shouldn’t be the ultimate goal for the new countries. Test cricket is a dated ambition which is not must to survive in the competitive world. I know playing longer versions like Test cricket and the ODIs will help in the short game skills but even this is not mandatory as there are players who have made their international debuts even before playing a first class game in their respective countries. Krishmar Santokie of the West Indies is the latest example in this list. However, the players from under developed nations in terms of cricketing knowledge should be allowed to play in different T20 leagues of the world. Their cricketing boards along with the ICC should draft a formula wherein their number of players are guaranteed a place in the private T20 events. Indian Premier League is the best T20 event across the globe.
The problem is that the franchises of this league have not paid importance to the players who are from the weaker nations. Their names have popped up in the auctions but the hammer has come down as unsold. It is no more a hidden fact that player from Ireland, Netherlands and other countries are immensely talented in the T20 format. I know it is not easy to order T20 leagues to keep certain slots for the players from the small countries but atleast the idea can be explored. The players from Pakistan and particularly England haven’t been able to participate in different T20 extravaganza due to different reasons which has hampered their progress. England has one of the best and the oldest T20 competition but this is not enough to learn about the playing conditions of the remaining countries. Playing in India will help in developing one’s knowledge about the sub-continent. Aaron Finch, the Australian opener, recently stated that playing with Virender Sehwag has made David Warner a better player.
Sehwag and Warner played together for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League. If the associates are not exposed to these leagues, they will start falling behind in the format that gives them a chance of competing with the best. Moreover, the governing body of the Champions League T20 could run a qualifying round in which certain number teams from the associate nations play against each other and the winner is drafted in the main draw. If the administrators are interested in expanding cricket beyond the current limit, T20 is their best chance. It is the only format, which has the capability of taking the competition level to new heights and who knows we could see India getting defeated at the hands of Nepal someday.
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