When Twenty20 started off in England, many saw the new instant-coffee-style format of the game to be one for sheer entertainment - "not serious cricket". Many believed that the old classics of the game would be frustrated no end by it. And sure enough, as T20 spread across the world, the coaching manual kept getting thrown into the litter bin. With Eoin Morgan's reserve sweeps, Dilshan's scoops over the keeper and David Warner's right-handed slog sweeps over extra cover, purists like Glenn McGrath and Shaun Pollock were becoming increasingly bemused. And with time, many of them came to the conclusion that this was not their cup of tea.
The Indian Premier League revolutionized the World of Cricket. It brought T20 to the high table and it became increasingly clear to everybody that T20 was here to stay, whether the legends liked it or not. The first few editions of the tournament quite certainly belonged to the adventure-loving, new age ball hitters of the game - the likes of Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers and Yusuf Pathan. It was all about hitting the ball to the fence and over it; didn't quite matter how you did it. The older greats of Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Sanath Jayasuriya were quickly drafted away into the sidelines. They were branded 'beyond expiry'. Yes, this was not their cup of tea.
However, cricket is cricket. Whether you play 5 overs, 10 overs, 20 overs, 50 overs or 500 overs, cricket shall always be cricket - the rules never change. You might put the ball into the fence off the inside edge, but on a different day, you'd find your leg stump go miles back. You might try to be cheeky with the keeper and scoop it over his head, but he might get his gloves in the way some day. What really matters is to be consistent and last the long haul. And that's where the old, 'beyond expiry' legends came in.
The most economical bowlers in the IPL's history, quite fascinatingly, are Anil Kumble and Daniel Vettori, both by no means T20 specialists (both, infact, spinners!). The most consistent run-getter in the IPL's history is Jacques Kallis (he also hit a 95 metre long six last night!). Rahul Dravid now scores at well over a run a ball; infact, he's been outscoring his much younger partner Ajinkya Rahane this season! Brad Hodge, well over 30 years of age and one of Australia's erstwhile classics, has become the most valuable finisher in the IPL this season, winning games for his side from direst of straits. Mahela Jayawardene has become quite a revelation, some even calling him a 'devastating opener' these days! And Muttiah Muralitharan, true to his name, picks up a wicket almost every over.
One can go on about the old legends striking back with refreshing vigour at the game of T20. But what makes them so much more delightful to watch as compared to Chris Gayle's baseball whacks and Kieron Pollard's brutal thwacks is the way in which they go about their play - retaining the same old aura, elegance and glory. Jayawardene's late cuts past short third man are just as effective as Pollard's flat hooks to the fence, only more easy on the eye. Kallis' open-chested inside-out shots over long-off go as far as Gayle's rooted-to-the-crease clobbering, only that they are more soothing. Rahul Dravid's leg glances go as quickly to the fence as Yusuf Pathan's murderous drives past cover, only more classic and attractive. And as time continues to flow by, one is becoming increasingly convinced that the erudite legends of old are the most reliable in the game of cricket, irrespective of the number of overs of play or the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Old is indeed Gold.
The Indian Premier League revolutionized the World of Cricket. It brought T20 to the high table and it became increasingly clear to everybody that T20 was here to stay, whether the legends liked it or not. The first few editions of the tournament quite certainly belonged to the adventure-loving, new age ball hitters of the game - the likes of Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers and Yusuf Pathan. It was all about hitting the ball to the fence and over it; didn't quite matter how you did it. The older greats of Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Sanath Jayasuriya were quickly drafted away into the sidelines. They were branded 'beyond expiry'. Yes, this was not their cup of tea.
However, cricket is cricket. Whether you play 5 overs, 10 overs, 20 overs, 50 overs or 500 overs, cricket shall always be cricket - the rules never change. You might put the ball into the fence off the inside edge, but on a different day, you'd find your leg stump go miles back. You might try to be cheeky with the keeper and scoop it over his head, but he might get his gloves in the way some day. What really matters is to be consistent and last the long haul. And that's where the old, 'beyond expiry' legends came in.
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| Watching it fly: Jacques Kallis |
One can go on about the old legends striking back with refreshing vigour at the game of T20. But what makes them so much more delightful to watch as compared to Chris Gayle's baseball whacks and Kieron Pollard's brutal thwacks is the way in which they go about their play - retaining the same old aura, elegance and glory. Jayawardene's late cuts past short third man are just as effective as Pollard's flat hooks to the fence, only more easy on the eye. Kallis' open-chested inside-out shots over long-off go as far as Gayle's rooted-to-the-crease clobbering, only that they are more soothing. Rahul Dravid's leg glances go as quickly to the fence as Yusuf Pathan's murderous drives past cover, only more classic and attractive. And as time continues to flow by, one is becoming increasingly convinced that the erudite legends of old are the most reliable in the game of cricket, irrespective of the number of overs of play or the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Old is indeed Gold.
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