Watching Sanath Jayasuriya demolish the Chennai attack in yesterday’s IPL Cricket Tournament was a one-off thrill that brought into focus some thoughts on this format of the game. I have friends who are ‘purists’ as far as cricket goes, and for them, even the fifty-over game is a bastard they could clearly do without, so one could well imagine their collective reaction to the twenty-over game, which they regard as a ploy by the organizers to commercialize the game even more than they did with the fifty-over version, corrupting it to an even greater extent.
All right then, let’s look at the implications for all concerned and try to figure out if the IPL format is ‘good’ for cricket, or, as the purists would have it, a bunch of crap, not to be confused with the pristine form.
Judging from the comments of the players I have seen on television so far, and this includes the international players, every one of them have had only positive remarks about the format. I heard Kumar Sangakkara opine that this would add a whole new dimension to cricket and he was of the view that test cricket would also be positively influenced by it and predicted that run-rates would increase.
Another aspect that drew very positive comments was the combining of the international players with the lesser known Indian cricketers. I heard many players remark on how much they appreciated the exchange of information – particularly the young Indians who had the chance to partner greats like Glen McGrath, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Santh Jayasuriya, Adam Gilchrist and Shawn Pollock and to receive tips and hints on how to improve their performances. Although the relatively simple matter of being on the same team as their heroes was more than enough for the youngsters, the added dimension of the interactions between them all made for the experiences of a lifetime.
Then there is the new-found camaraderie between old rivals who sledged each other and appeared to hate each others guts in the not too distant past, now seen embracing and cheering each other on – a new found spirit that will surely hold the game in good stead in the future. This also enabled us to get to know many of the cricketers better. For instance, I always thought Graham Smith to be a bit of an asshole, however, from some exposure to his personality it seems I was wrong and he is a more than okay guy with a great sense of humour to boot.
The commercial aspect is another part of this phenomenon that can not be overlooked, as the cash the cricketers earn is not to be sneezed at and will, in all probability, kill off English County Cricket sooner than later. And what timing for blokes like McGrath, Warne, Jayasuriya and Pollock – all of them, for all intents and purposes nearly over the hill, but reappearing to accolades deserving of their performances and rising to the occasion more often than not. The format is perfect for them as the bowlers need to put out for only four overs a game and the cash they earn post-retirement is like so much icing on the cake, who can blame them for loving the format?
Indian cricket will, no doubt, reap rich dividends from the concept – not only from the experience and practice the cricketers get, but also from the huge income the tournament has generated through ticket sales, sponsorships, advertising and television. And of course the income generated from the betting must be reaching astronomical proportions.
The Bollywood slant is another brilliant idea, as the production and hoopla has attracted a whole slew of new fans – most of them ladies. Sharukh Khan and Preethi Zinta are not only bringing in a lot of attention, they are also reaping the rewards of their association with the teams. The ‘family’ is another important element for, as Sachin commented, the format, being short-lived entertainment full of action and surprises, is perfect for a family’s evening’s entertainment and he proceeded to exemplify this with the fact that his wife and children were together at the game for the first time, and probably for not the last.
Judging from the matches that I have managed to watch, I found the standards of fielding to be very high and the cricket, in general, to be extremely entertaining. Okay, so there may not be the classic strokes played with the monotonous regularity that we see in test cricket that the purists among us go ga-ga about, but Sanath’s innings last night had nary a false move in there, with his brilliance being enhanced by really super cricket strokes.
And so it seems that everyone is happy – the players, the organizers, the owners, the advertisers, the vendors, the fans – both old and new, the BCCI, and perhaps even the ICC, who may have picked up a trick or two from the BCCI.
Ooops, I nearly forgot about the purists – muttering under their breath about the bastardization of their holy grail and refusing to be part of the experience. Too bad for them, for if they love the game of cricket, what’s there to bitch about? After all, nothing is static and evolution is part of the natural process – for cricket too, as it is for everything else.
11 comments
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May 15, 2008 at 1:25 pm
L
“classic strokes played with the monotonous regularity”
I have to say, I could never figure out why some members of my family liked to watch golf on TV. Then late one night, while surfing the channels, I saw Tiger woods in action. Still find golf boring but that one time I was riveted.
Similar experience when watching a tape of Tendulkar get a double century. It was not live, we could have fast-forwarded it and we knew the result….but it was something that was from another place. We watched every ball in one sitting. People in Australia, even though Tendulkar was in the opposition, would pray that he would not get out and cheer him along (problem is he tended to stick to the single figures) just so they could be teleported for a brief moment in their lives.
As Mr. RD once said….its the journey…not the result 🙂
May 15, 2008 at 1:30 pm
N
I have to say I havent really watched much IPL so can’t pass judgment on it, but if it kills of English County cricket…it must be a good thing no?
May 15, 2008 at 1:36 pm
L
As for families coming along, I remember having no choice! My earliest memory as a child is of these little white figures in white and a figure in black and white on a green lawn somewhere in Sri Lanka. Remember being told what an umpire was.
May 15, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Dili
I wouldnt call killing off county cricket a good thing. The old things have to be kept alive somewhere. The old days had style and grace. But the Matara Mauler (as the IPL site calls him) showed that change is not always for the worse. T20 is good, it’ll pump some adrenaline and fans back into the game. Short and sweet is what most things are meant to be nowadays and Sanaths innings was too short and very very sweet 😀
Stye and grace arent lacking in T20. Evidence: Sanath and Kumar’s batting displays.
May 15, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Global Voices Online » Sri Lanka: Cricket purists
[…] new Twenty-20 format of cricket has received a mixed reception. Emphemeral Ruminations writes an open letter to the cricket purists. Posted by Neha Viswanathan Share […]
May 16, 2008 at 7:19 am
Deane
T20 Rocks. I’m sure there were similar reactions from the purists when One day cricket came about.
May 17, 2008 at 12:58 am
javajones
L – I have no problem with test cricket and do appreciate all the niceties involved – in all forms of the game, which is why I wonder at the ‘purists”stance.
And I wouldn’t take kids who would not understand the game, unless there was a baby-sitter problem.
N – Don’t really know. I guess there are a lot of folk who get off on it, and it has provided a platform for lots of players to display their prowess and go on to greater feats.
Dili – ‘Old things’ will survive if they can adapt and evolve successfully. Agreed with the rest.
Deane – Right!
May 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm
L
Wasn’t defending the purists. Just reminiscing. I had a deprived childhood 🙂 Thinking back I must have been about 5 years old, because I don’t think I had started school yet. However, to give them credit they did have the patience to try and explain things to me.
In Ozzie land….boxing day test match in the MCG is a tradition that still hasn’t died down. Pretty exciting day. Also see kids go with fathers though usually 6 years or 7 or older. Love the way the fathers over here call their sons…”mate”. Of course tickets to the MCG over here are something the average person can afford. There are also reduced rates for children and I think those who are unemployed etc.
I also have a colleague who has no clue about cricket but keeps the radio during the commentaries during the summer because it is soothing!
More than the fact of it being 50 overs or 20 overs etc I think some are lamenting the commercialisation of the game. Actually even politicians tend to want to take their pictures with these folks to get reflected glory. This doesn’t necessarily apply just to cricket but to any sport for that matter. Meant to bring this point up in another post of yours about the Andrew Symonds incident. See link below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2008/02/cricketers_behaving_badly.html
May 25, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Meese
I have to say, i’ve watched a couple of t20’s and they’re boring for me. I suppose this is just me as the rest seem to find it most exciting. I’m not saying that when you see a good batsman hit sixes and fours its not fun to watch.
yet my point is that.. you remember arjuna ranatunge? our former SL captain… how he would toy with a bowlers by just nudging.. i would find that more fun than just watching six after six.
I would like to see how a batsman comes in 3 down in the 5th over and builds a decent score for the team to defend on a bad pitch.
how the bowlers sometimes make it impossible for the batters in the game.
I doubt the T20’s will grow on me.. I haven’t watched more than one so far(IPL or whatever its called).. found it not so interesting..
I guess things will change, much to my displeasure. I say, only the game will lose its finesse.. test cricket the ultimate challenge, 50 overs the good faster version.
T20s i suppose alright for light entertainment… but thats all it’ll ever be for me…
Plus i’m not into the whole idea that india should benifit from the international players experience. Its just a ploy me thinks to uplift their standards. I think it just makes the game a little one sided.
It was boring when australia was winning all the games they played but at least they were doing it themselves as far as i know. now this is more of a inorganic growth.
Then again.. this is just me..
PS- players will say anything as long as they get the 1 million $ pay cheques.. i’m sorry but they are human too…
May 26, 2008 at 5:18 am
Gallicissa
“After all, nothing is static and evolution is part of the natural process – for cricket too, as it is for everything else.”
Well said.
I got to know about SJ’s smashing innings from you first as I missed the actual match due to being busy hosting a blog carnival. I was able to catch up with the highlight package and really enjoyed it. So, thanks for that.
I enjoy IPL in a moderate way and do not attach too much of emotion to it as I do when our national team is playing.
May 26, 2008 at 5:58 am
javajones
L – You’re right about the ‘commercialization of the game’ being lamented. I believe most of us share this view, but then again, when a sport is as successful, commercialization follows – and usually in proportion to the success factor. Par for the course!
Meese – ‘Different strokes…’! I too didn’t get into the format until quite late in the day, but did start to enjoy the happenings as the games progressed.
It appears (from the ‘experts’ views on TV) that as the pros are getting used to the format, that ‘good cricketing shots’, and not indiscriminate slogging, is the way to go. The examples they cite are Kumar Sangakkara and Sean Marsh (among others). So maybe soon the format will select out the crass and the ‘true’ artists will stand out. I find the whole thing to be fascinating as as an evolutionary process – not to mention the entertainment value got from watching.
Regarding your point about the Indians benefiting from their concept – sure it is ‘a ploy to uplift their standards’ and also to unearth new talent (as they are doing superbly) – not to mention the massive financial gains. So, hey, more power to them – they have proved to be smarter than the rest (in this context). However, if you watch the interaction between the players themselves, it does appear as if they are also immensely enjoying playing with individuals from other teams, and this should improve the spirit of the game when internationals are on.
Your comment on “players will say anything..’ is also probably true, but there again, it is possible that at least some of them (if not all) are expressing their true feelings.
Gallicissa – There were some other great innings as well! I’m not a ‘fanatic’ about this format – it was just an expression of my views about some of the folk I know who diss it without bothering to check it out – as most ‘purists’ (in any area) are usually prone to do.
Glad you got to see the carnage Sanath inflicted!
Cheers!