T20 cricket is seen as an enticing thing in the modern era and it is being played between nations more often than not nowadays. Though Twenty20 cricket has managed to produce skilful players, it hasn’t produced better cricketers. This particular format may be entertaining but it originally lacks quality in the first place.
The popularity of T20 cricket has become increasingly hair-raising as it is slowly killing the sheen of longer version of the game.
Meanwhile, Sir Richard Hadlee, who was once the record holder of the highest wicket-taker in the longest form of the game, has expressed his concern about the Test cricket which has been overshadowed by the revolution of T20 cricket.
T20 cricket will not survive if Test cricket is not taken care of: Sir Richard Hadlee
New Zealand pace great Hadlee, who is not a big fan of T20 cricket said that the shortest format will not sustain if Test cricket is not taken care of. He added that Test cricket must be preserved such that all three formats can exist. Hadlee who took 431 wickets in 86 Tests said that it is important to look after the five-day format.
“Test cricket must be preserved. It’s the foundation on which the game is based. So we must look after the five-day game. Certainly, with the emergence of T20 cricket which is a revolution in the game, all three formats need to live together. They can co-exist but I hate to see that T20 cricket will dominate world cricket,” the 69-year-old was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“Probably too much T20 cricket is played around the world. But I hope that the game doesn’t try to just survive through T20 cricket because T20 cricket is not real cricket. Real cricket is Test cricket,” said Hadlee.
Hadlee, who has scored 3124 runs in Tests said that the shortest form of the game has produced more skilful players even though they might not be better cricketers at the highest level.
“I am not saying they are better players but they are certainly more skilful. Because of different formats that they play, they have to adapt to different situations particularly in T20 which is a high-risk game anyway with all the trick shots that they play,” he stated.
Hadlee, who during his heydays moved the ball in and out with no change in wrist position said that the current generation bowlers in T20 cricket have at least five variations while adding that he used to have two variations and that is inswinger and outswinger respectively.
“The T20 generation bowlers today have at least five variations. They bowl different deliveries like the knuckleball, back of the hand slower one. Back in my time, I only had two variations (inswinger and outswinger). That’s all I needed,” he added.
Moreover, Hadlee has no doubts in mind that too much of T20 cricket will lead to premature retirements.
“At 34 or 35, you probably end your career as a quick bowler but you can have three or four years left in T20 cricket because if you play Test cricket, you can burn out, get injured and be less effective. People will retire prematurely to pursue where the money is. That’s not a criticism at all but a sign of times and way the game has gone. I was 39 when I retired and it was Test cricket. That’s it,” Hadlee said.
The former New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Director, Richard is currently battling with cancer.