The Hindu : Sport : T20 — its strength is its weakness

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Saturday, Sep 15, 2007
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T20 — its strength is its weakness

T20 has made a stuttering start, writes Peter Roebuck

Has the first twenty over carnival been a success or a flop? Admittedly it is not wise to judge a day till night has fallen. Not until the last ball has been bowled on September 24th can any conclusion be reached. Still, a few matches have been played and the trend has been established.

To listen to the sales pitch presented by officials, and the roarings of apparently overwhelmed television commentators, is to suppose that the entire cricketing world has been caught up in the frenzy. Obviously these fellows are duty bound to portray T20 in a favourable light. And it is a game designed for TV. Moreover they could point towards the first 24 hours of the tournament and argue that the early matches provided exceptional entertainment.

But did they? Supposedly a thriller, South Africa’s defeat of the West Indies lacked spice. Between them, a tame pitch and the callowness of the visitors removed any sense of struggle between bat and ball. Why is it that people like seeing the ball repeatedly belted into distant stands? There is no beauty in it, and not much thought. It was like watching a golfer hit drives all the time.

Brutish and brief

Afterwards everyone said it had been a wonderful match. Certainly those watching from their living rooms enjoyed themselves. But, then, they were not assaulted by endless ear-splitting noise.

Spectators at The Wanderers seemed to relish the sight of their team winning but appeared less exalted as they trooped from the ground. The contest had been brutish and brief. Or are these merely the fancies of a curmudgeon?

Admittedly Australia’s match with Zimbabwe was amusing. It is always fun to see complacent champions get their comeuppance. Prosper Utseya’s men were fitter, faster and fresher.

Australia has not taken T20 seriously, and last season allowed a rugby player to represent New South Wales. It showed. Also the pitch assisted the bowlers which forced batsmen to think. Not everyone relishes a ritual slaughter.

So much for the case for the defence of T20.Without wanting to be a spoilsport, these arguments cannot pass unchallenged.

A glance around the stands suggests that T20 has not caught the local imagination as much as apologists claim. Fifteen thousand tickets were sold for the first match at Newlands, but only 6,400 spectators turned up. It was the same for England’s appearance next day. Hardly anyone went to watch other matches in Johannesburg and Durban. Many of those attending have been expatriates sentimentally supporting their fellow countrymen.

Tickets have been cheap, too, $3 dollars in the public areas. Cricket learnt a lot from the last World Cup. And still the crowds have been thin. Admittedly the ground was almost full for the opener but that was to be expected.

Weather factor

Certainly the weather has been poor, chilly in Cape Town and wet in Durban. And the Rugby World Cup has been a distraction. Perhaps, too, the staging of morning and afternoon matches was a mistake. People have to work.

Also South Africa has its own particular complications, with little public transport from the high density areas. Unable to woo purists, T20 has also been prevented from luring the masses through the gates. Still, it has hardly been a runaway success. Doubtless the later rounds will attract larger crowds and produce more compelling cricket.

England, especially, has developed plans and skills for this version of the game. But T20 has made a stuttering start. Its strength is its weakness. At some point excitement becomes banal. Compression has its limits.

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