Let me confess, I am not a fan of T20, whatever the entertainment value is. So, these are undoubtedly the views of a prejudiced man. I am willing to be pilloried, all for a good cause!
If you come to analyze the game -- I would warn against taking too long or being too clinical, since this is a capsule version and would not bear great scrutiny -- clearly Cricket as we know has been bastardized (forgive the language) badly in order to create this huge rigmarole, which is supposed to keep people on the edge for 3.5 hours. Only because anything less than a four or a six every ball is below par for the course! This is a game in which, in order to succeed s a batsman, one has to remove the left leg (if a right-hander) to clear the way and assume a positively ugly posture to heave the ball over the fence, contrary to whatever we have learnt. A game, wherein, we see batsmen crawling (sometimes on all fours) all across the crease in an attempt to play a crass, cross-batted cow-shot-slog or play what has become the most artistic shot of this form of cricket, a convoluted scoop from way outside the off to the finest of fine legs; a game in which, many a time, a batsman looks like he is going to use the bat as a spoon to move the ball into his own or the wicket-keeper's mouth and succeeds in scoring boundaries; a game which makes all the commentators agree that `it was a good/genuine cricket shot' about 4 times in a match, thereby confirming that the rest of the proceedings was obviously not cricket, as they know. And they should know!! And, oh, a game in which the bowler is just expected to provide as little fodder to the batsman as possible, with the least support in the field, little else.
A game which can make a heroes of batsman who would probably find it difficult to score 10 scratchy runs in other, more probing forms of the game, if he is lucky to escape with the chances he offers to get out; a game, in which, a good bowler like Ashwin has to bowl alternately with his regular and round-arm actions to `deceive' the batsman. In essence, this version of the game is all about getting runs, regardless of how crude the methods are. The end is all that matters, the means be damned! Considering that, what else could we expect from those managing this game than sleaze, corruption, absolute disregard for laws of the land and willingness to share the ill-earned millions with others of their ilk?? Why are we surprised?? May be, by the extent of the disease; looks like in every turn in the administration of the game, someone has benefited from the devious actions of the crooked bosses and that virtually mirrors which happens on the field.
May be, the jury is still out on that. But, I can tell you, it is all bemusing. Do I watch the games? I do,
once in a while, to check if anything has changed! Yes there is change, but not for the better...but can never sit through the whole 20 hours of one side. And believe me, I am the kind of guy, who used to hang on to Radio Ceylon, broadcasting the commentary on a game between University of Colombo and University of Kandy (or something similar), just to feel the flow of the great game, however obscure the names were, no matter one did not know anyone amongst the 22 players!!
Like so many other things in modern life, this version of cricket has come to pass and we just have to put up with that, I guess. Probably because this game also requires a set of skills and pays the players rather well for a short day's work. And some people don't seem to mind and are willing to be entertained this way. But, for god's sake, don't expect me to love and embrace it.
If you come to analyze the game -- I would warn against taking too long or being too clinical, since this is a capsule version and would not bear great scrutiny -- clearly Cricket as we know has been bastardized (forgive the language) badly in order to create this huge rigmarole, which is supposed to keep people on the edge for 3.5 hours. Only because anything less than a four or a six every ball is below par for the course! This is a game in which, in order to succeed s a batsman, one has to remove the left leg (if a right-hander) to clear the way and assume a positively ugly posture to heave the ball over the fence, contrary to whatever we have learnt. A game, wherein, we see batsmen crawling (sometimes on all fours) all across the crease in an attempt to play a crass, cross-batted cow-shot-slog or play what has become the most artistic shot of this form of cricket, a convoluted scoop from way outside the off to the finest of fine legs; a game in which, many a time, a batsman looks like he is going to use the bat as a spoon to move the ball into his own or the wicket-keeper's mouth and succeeds in scoring boundaries; a game which makes all the commentators agree that `it was a good/genuine cricket shot' about 4 times in a match, thereby confirming that the rest of the proceedings was obviously not cricket, as they know. And they should know!! And, oh, a game in which the bowler is just expected to provide as little fodder to the batsman as possible, with the least support in the field, little else.
A game which can make a heroes of batsman who would probably find it difficult to score 10 scratchy runs in other, more probing forms of the game, if he is lucky to escape with the chances he offers to get out; a game, in which, a good bowler like Ashwin has to bowl alternately with his regular and round-arm actions to `deceive' the batsman. In essence, this version of the game is all about getting runs, regardless of how crude the methods are. The end is all that matters, the means be damned! Considering that, what else could we expect from those managing this game than sleaze, corruption, absolute disregard for laws of the land and willingness to share the ill-earned millions with others of their ilk?? Why are we surprised?? May be, by the extent of the disease; looks like in every turn in the administration of the game, someone has benefited from the devious actions of the crooked bosses and that virtually mirrors which happens on the field.
May be, the jury is still out on that. But, I can tell you, it is all bemusing. Do I watch the games? I do,
once in a while, to check if anything has changed! Yes there is change, but not for the better...but can never sit through the whole 20 hours of one side. And believe me, I am the kind of guy, who used to hang on to Radio Ceylon, broadcasting the commentary on a game between University of Colombo and University of Kandy (or something similar), just to feel the flow of the great game, however obscure the names were, no matter one did not know anyone amongst the 22 players!!
Like so many other things in modern life, this version of cricket has come to pass and we just have to put up with that, I guess. Probably because this game also requires a set of skills and pays the players rather well for a short day's work. And some people don't seem to mind and are willing to be entertained this way. But, for god's sake, don't expect me to love and embrace it.
