Need for Speed

A recent comment by the BCCI Vice President, Lalit Modi on India promoting Twenty20 cricket is excellent news . Not very long ago, the BCCI honchos and ex-players passed some very
sarcastic remarks, calling it pajama/underwear cricket and vowed not to be swayed by pressure from the ICC. Finally, the board has realized its folly in not embracing the increasingly popular format.

For folks who would like to watch an entire game, but can't find the time, the new three hour version is a boon. Imagine sitting through an entire cricket game, and that too on a weekday! Personally, I can't wait. Don't get me wrong - I'll still keep an eye on Test and ODI scores - but that's the extent of my involvement with the longer formats - it has been this way for a very long time now. Gone are the days of following every single wide and no-ball of a dull five dayer.

This has to be a win-win for advertisers, too. They will now have a captive audience for a fixed period of time.

Sure the purists are fuming at the thought. "It's just not cricket". Well, they can call it by another name, then. As far as I am concerned, it's still a contest between bat and ball - with speed.