Berlin : The “loyalty to money” which Twenty20 leagues around the world are promoting has made it impossible for any country to strike the perfect balance between all three formats of cricket, says former Australian captain Steve Waugh.
Waugh, however, feels India, Australia and England are closest to getting the equilibrium right.
Worried about the impact that Twenty20 cricket is having on the game, Waugh said the incentive on offer in T20 leagues has led to a decline in loyalty towards national duty.
“I think Australia is the closest when it comes to striking a balance, India has the potential and England is also coming up nicely…I think it’s impossible to strike a perfect balance given that there are three different teams. It’s not realistic. I don’t think there would ever be one world no.1 in all three formats of the game,” Waugh said in an interaction with the Indian media at the Laureus World Sports Awards here.
“Somebody like Brendon McCullum retired from Test cricket even though I feel he still had three-four years in him. He is just working for superannuation right now, for his family, which is alright. Overall I feel there is no loyalty to the team, there is loyalty to money now. I don’t blame the players but it’s tough on the fans,” Waugh said.
“I am disappointed with India right now. Cricket is more than just a T20 game, they need to understand that.” -Ian Botham
His sentiments were echoed by former England captain Ian Botham, who said Twenty20 should be kept at the “bottom of the shelf”.
“Test is number 1 because it ebbs and flows beautifully but there is shelf life for every format. And I feel Twenty20 should be at the bottom of the shelf. People are saying it was a great World Twenty20 final last month. I say it was a great last four balls, the rest of the final was a drag. I think it was a pretty poor final,” Botham said.
Botham said the way things are going, Twenty20 is in the danger of becoming a lottery.
“That’s a real threat. T20 could become a lottery because cricket is much more than just 20 overs. Crowds like it but then crowds like Test cricket too. In England every big Test series is sold out, it’s the same in Australia, South Africa or New Zealand” he said.
“I think players have to remind people of how important Test cricket is. Players have the obligation to look after Test cricket,” Botham added.
He is not the one to be enamoured by the razzmatazz of T20 cricket and that’s the reason why Ian Bothan thinks that India needs to understand that there is more to the game than the shortest format only.
“I am disappointed with Indian cricket right now. Cricket is more than just a 20-over game, they need to understand that. England’s contests with India always used to excite me but right now, I don’t know what to say,”
“Where is India going in Test cricket? Why is it happening to the team. Is it saturation of Twenty20? India needs to figure out,” Botham seemed baffled in the manner India has treated Test cricket.
Botham said he is concerned about the fate of ODI cricket in the wake of the T20 storm.
“I am concerned about what might happen to ODIs. It’s a format I like because it also ebbs and flows like Tests. There is a need to get that balance but I don’t think it’s going to be easy,” he said.
