I've not been blogging for a while now... You might have thought, 'Ha! this guy is out of ideas already!'. But I've just conned you! (Not really, I did run out of ideas, but that's just not for YOU to know).
So now that that's been settled, let me get (re) started with the blog. I saw the first IPL match yesterday. The Kolkata Knight Riders completely decimated the Bangalore Royal Challengers (who, I could not resist this, did not put up much of a challenge!). It was good entertainment, the crowds loved it and so did the commentators. I can't say I didn't enjoy it, but it worries me. This is far too short a version of the game to bring out it's glorious possibilities. It just got me thinking... No matter what the players out there do, there some events that will never happen in T20. In no particular order, here we go:
1. Sachin checks into heartbreak hotel.
What Indian fan can forget the heartbreak of losing to Pakistan in Chennai in 1998? Chasing 271 to win in the fourth innings of the first test, only two Indian batsmen got to double figures. One of them was Sachin Tendulkar. Battling severe back spasms, he almost led the inept Indian team to a what would have been a fabulous win. Too bad there was nobody else to score those remaining 13 runs.
2. Yuvraj and Kaif lead us home
Netwest series final, 2002. In a T20 game, after the start India had had, there wouldn't have been a chance in hell of winning. It takes a longer version to separate the men from the boys.
3. South Africa bt Australia by one wicket in 2006
It was what has been called one of the greatest games of all time. The sheer nerves required to chase that target... WOW! Nothing of this sort will ever occur in T20 for the simple reason that T20 is too short. It's possible to maintain that sort of momentum for twenty overs... but fifty? I'd have said not a chance, if I hadn't seen this innings that is.
There is of course a lot more you could add to this list. But then again, I can only talk of what I've seen. I'd be truly sorry if T20 kills tests or ODIs...
2 comments:
even i would be sad if t20 kills test and ODI
but each form of the game has its own form of fun
if you have been watching the IPL matches religiously u must have seen the "change is unavoidable" commercial...get my point?
another gr8 thing abt IPL is that it will go a long way in restoring crickets exalted place as The Gentleman's Game...an epithet which has suffered a lot due to monkeys, obnoxious weeds, hindu-muslim crap and the usual indo-pak wars on the pitch
seeing players of different country's and races and faiths come 2gether as a team is very heartening!
cud u have imagined ponting and dada embracing each other six months ago?
ambani, srk, desi-branson, prity zinta...or pawar...whoever makes most money out of this is immaterial
the ultimate winner is the Gentlemans Game
It may help improve the spirit of the game, but I'm still afraid of what it might do to the game. To be perfectly honest, we live in a world where everything is made noob friendly and consumer whored. The whole issue here is that supply comes from demand, and if there is no demand for the higher forms, they will eventually die out. That is what is to be avoided. We've hardly had 10 games and already, the aforementioned noob fans are looking at a day when cricket becomes like football, and club culture dominates, with international matches being a rarity. This is what I'm afraid of.
I feel rotten when we go play a two match test series. A test series has to be played with atleast 4-5 matches. The aussie tour was ugly, there is no doubt, but would the Perth victory have been so sweet if it wasn't for Sydney? I think not.
Theres the problem with bowlers being made mere pawns in T20... I'd prefer it if the ICC issued guidelines prescribing T20 pitches to be made batsman friendly. That has two benefits - 1. It'll train the youngsters in tough conditions, 2- The bowlers have a significant part to play.
I can't but follow this tournament with mixed feelings and apprehension.
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