[LostFanBoy]

England have agreed to play five winner-takes-all £10m Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean after signing a deal with businessman Sir Allen Stanford.

will America take to the game ?
will test cricket eventually die ..unfortunately I think it might Ronnie Irani was saying this morning he thinks in the future 20/20 will be cricket

[Ian J]

The Americans might take to 20/20 cricket as it's very much like rounders which is one of their national sports.

It's difficult to know what effect 20/20 will have on proper cricket as whilst Test cricket will reign supreme in England, Australia and South Africa who knows what will happen in India where they seem to have taken to 20/20 like a duck to water.

For those not into cricket - 20/20 is the cricketing equivalent of 5 a side football, all crash bang wallop and no finesse.

I think that it has it's place as a bit of mid season light relief which is what happens in England and although I'm a traditionalist I still watch a bit of 20/20 and weather permitting I'll be at Trent Bridge on Saturday to watch Notts take on Durham

[LostFanBoy]

do you not think the money on offer will ruin squad harmony ?
some test players dont play 20/20 will they want to now ?
i must admit I do enjoy watching the 20/20 games they are fun and exciting

[Sicknote10]

I'm still undecided on how the increase in money will effect the game, on one hand it could corrupt it, but on the other it might encourage more kids to get into cricket if they see the top players earning a fortune like footballers do
It's changed how some of the players bat in test cricket, more adventerous shots being played which can attract more people to watch

Should be going to a few Twenty20 games at The Oval this year, only managed one last year - against Hampshire where they only got 10 overs in, but still good entertainment even if I did get soaked!

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by LostFanBoy

do you not think the money on offer will ruin squad harmony ?
some test players dont play 20/20 will they want to now ?

The rewards for England players have always been higher than for county cricketers but the pay on offer for this series is far too high in comparison and is bound to ruin the squad esprit de corp. Most players in a team pick themselves but there are always one or two where decisions have to be made between a couple of players and the lucky one could earn millions whereas the unlucky one misses out.

Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard are two test players that are deemed not good enough for even One Day cricket, let alone 20/20 and whilst Vaughan has shown no interest in 20/20 preferring to rest he has now decided that he wants to be involved and persuaded Yorshire to play him yesterday in their game against Derbys where he made a second ball duck. Hoggard also played and appeared to bowl quite tidily but his lack of whackability down the order will hamper his chances.

I wonder what will happen in the million dollar games when the finish is tight and it comes down to the last over and the bowler is whacked all over the place or one of the fielders drops a simple catch or if we are batting in similar circumstances and the batsman is run out or offers a simple catch.

How will the rest of the team react seeing all their loot disappearing down the drain.

[DJT75]

Test cricket is still a completely different game & I can't see it ever being replaced (although it might change slightly). The Americans would never even consider taking to a game that after 5 days, may not have a winner.

Twenty20 in my opinion may see the end of the the One dayers though, it's a better spectacle & already out sells one dayers by a mile.

I'm off to Lord's on Monday for Middlesex v Surrey. The only problem with Twenty20 is getting in your seat before it starts. Take a little too long in the village drinking beer & expect to miss at least 3 wickets!

[Silver Arrow]

I think 20 - 20 is definately the way forward for cricket, what better sight than all those mascots doing a "Grand National" and Bumble comentating and trying to keep up with them. Superb entertainment

[Sicknote10]

Went to Surrey vs Hampshire last night, ground was packed, haven't seen it that full for a non-tv game before
Too many screaming kids sitting behind me though, only problem with Twenty20

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Sicknote10

Went to Surrey vs Hampshire last night, ground was packed, haven't seen it that full for a non-tv game before
Too many screaming kids sitting behind me though, only problem with Twenty20

& the beer at Lord's - frigging awful. Cardboard pint glasses

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Sicknote10

Went to Surrey vs Hampshire last night, ground was packed, haven't seen it that full for a non-tv game before

Surrey aren't doing too well in a game that I thought they would dominate.

My wife quite likes cricket and I took her to Trent Bridge last Saturday afternoon to watch Notts take on Durham (my team). It was great to see Chris Cairns come out of retirement to slap a few sixes around even if it was my team that he was punishing.

Probably one third of the crowd were female which surprised me but 20/20 is tailor made for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with the games starting at 2:30 and finishing at about 5:45

[Sicknote10]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Surrey aren't doing too well in a game that I thought they would dominate.

We seem to have gone down hill the last few years, used to have some good 20/20 players like Adam Hollioake (game was made for him), Azhar Mahmood, Ricki Clarke, Tim Murtagh, and Nayan Doshi - none of these have really been replaced
Even Ali Brown is getting on a bit, I went to his testimonial/benefit match about 5 years ago yet he's still playing!

[Sicknote10]

Flintoff playing his first game for ages today, didn't bowl, and was out first ball