Consider this, at the beginning it was a 7 day game. Then reduced to 5 day. Reason primarily would have been that seven days was a long time.
The five day game was dominated by the bowler. The only way to win the game is to bowl out the opposition twice in the five day period. Only the blowers can really win you the game. The batsmen can set it up. Or chase a target which got set due the lack of effectiveness of the bowlers.
The five day game gave way to the 6o over and subsequently the 50 over, One Day International format. This enlivened the game. Lot of excitement. A format which hugely supported the batsmen. Go and fire at the bowling. Over time this format matured, and I would consider that the balance got restored. The bowlers learnt new techniques. Some became specialist of bowling at the death. Some learnt a new art - reverse swing. Thus a new format was created - Twenty20.
Twenty20 and specially the IPL (Indian Premier League), glorify cricket and the art of whacking the ball around the ground. The hitting has been brutal and savage to an extent. Flurry of runs and matching steps of the cheer leaders have created an atmosphere never seen before in cricket. It is as if it is a party of cricket.
But, the bowlers are getting on top again. They have a strategy to bowl out the other side in mere 20 overs. The other day Mumbai Indians bowled out the Delhi Daredevils to win the match. The Punjab's King XI has just blowed out the Banglore Royal Challenges in under 20 overs. The bowlers are gaining the edge again!
What will happen next I wonder to ensure that the entertainers (batsmen) gain an edge. In cricket the batsmen gets a single chance, where as the bowler can run in again the next ball after being hit for a six to take the wicket.
Just a thought!
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8 comments:
Change has always been the rule of this game.And I think IPL has really given the game a well awaited change.Whether it remains a batsman's game or bowlers find a strategy to prevent it from being one,only time will tell. But one thing is for sure that it will get the best out of both of them and serve as a great entertainment for the fans. Nice blog Nikunj especially since you have managed to express a lot in few words....keep up the good job.
---Suyash.
Test match then one-day then 20-20..its nt jst abt makin it a batsman's game..IPL 20 over games get over in about 3 hours, idea is to attract after work crowd for more attendance...nd if we wnt 2 make cricket a more global sport dis is d only way i thnk..
Cricket cant be classified as a batsman's or bowler's game....It's a team game and everyone has to play their part......Its just tht change in any field is unavoidable....hence 20-20...20-20 just gives an option for people...they can choose to spend 3 hrs for a movie or 3 hrs for a match providing them more choices...
Only the blowers can really win you the game. The batsmen can set it up.
Blowers....hmmmmm...interesting...
Dint know bowling was replaced was blowjob.....:)
--Nishant
As far as the ultimate purist of the game is concerned, they believe that ipl is no more than cricket reality show. Days are not far when three of the four semi finalist are decided by the cricketing skills and the fourth one is decided by the smses. I can visualise Sourav Ganguly standing in the middle of the eden gardens and pleading for votes. " If anyone of you liked our game, our commitment then do sms us. We may not have won the match but I beleive, with our game we have won your heart".
I dont know whether this will happen or not but one thing is sure that ipl is a commercial success. It is a win win situation for all the stakeholders, be it players, advertisers, umpires, viewers and even government.
But I am apprehensive whether ipl will continue to enjoy this success or there is bubble building up, a cricketing bubble. And u never know, when it will burst. Anyways these days there are lot of bubble bursting, real estate bubble, stock market bubble, u may add one more to this list, a cricketing bubble.
hehe..nice one kartik
what i can see happening in the future with sucess of IPL is two innings testmatches...juzz like ppl play in their backyards...
Each innings limited to max of 120overs(this can be debated)..120*4=480 overs. 1 over=5 mins. Therefore we have 2400 mins of possible cricket..roughly with 6hrs per day turns out to be a 6day affair.
I know its too long..but atleast itll give result all the time...
actually its a sad idea...6 days!! but idea none the less to enusre boring stale drawn test matches.
Mayank
I think it is an excellent format for the game. On the name of professionalism we have to work day and night to prove that we are professionals. Now , today i wouldnt have the time to catch the whole 50 overs match let alone a test match that goes on for freekin 5 days. I am happy watching a match which gets over in 3hours and also gives some sort of entertainment. Like football gets over in 90 minutes and is packed with energy. I am all up for twenty20. I give a thumbs up!! And yes it will always be a Batsmens game, bowlers can come up with their strategies , they can even bowl you out under the required overs. but at the end there nothing like watching a great bowler like GLEN McGRATH SHAKING HIS HEAD WHILE SACHIN HITS HIM FOR A BOUNDARY!!! Cheers!!
Nikhil
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