A Twenty20 cricket critique

This afternoon I will be attending my first Twenty20 cricket match when I watch Durham Dynamos take on Notts Outlaws at the Riverside in Chester-le-Street.

I must admit that I have barely watched any Twenty20 on television, never mind live in the ground.

And while this hardly qualifies me to comment on the new format, I have some reservations from what I have seen.

The whole Twenty20 v Test cricket debate was recently sparked once more by the West Indies captain Chris Gayle who said he would not miss Test cricket if it died out.

Unsurprisingly, the unmotivated Windies team went on to lose the Test series 2-0 with two crushing defeats (by 10 wickets and by an innings).

But, in my view, there is a certain beauty to Test cricket. Patience is the watch-word - for the batsmen, the bowlers and the spectators/viewers.

You just never know when the ball of the century might be bowled.

Will society's desire for instant gratification lead to Gayle's wish? I sincerely hope not and, with the Ashes to come this summer, it is unlikely.

With Twenty20, there is also an ungainly imbalance as it seems much more favourable to batsmen than bowlers.

In 29 matches played so far this week in the Twenty20 Cup, only five teams have been bowled out. (Unfortunately Durham was one of them in their loss to Derbyshire).

Some of the stats make even the best bowlers look silly and I have yet to see, and doubt I ever will see, the achievement of a maiden.

Finally, Test cricket teaches technique, how not to get out, whereas many Twenty20 shots are wild slogs which would be seen as suicidal in a Test.

But, don't get me wrong - I do see some of the benefits of Twenty20 having been introduced and can hopefully see both formats co-exist.

Twenty20 is brash and exciting with some extraordinary shots. And many of the shots still display good technique.

Matches are often close, there are few dull overs and you are guaranteed a result unless it pelts it down with rain all day.

This is in stark to the insipid Tests which were played in the Caribbean over the winter, especially the Third Test when England (600-6 and 279-2) drew with the Windies (749-9).

Twenty20 is also much easier for television to provide coverage.

Whereas Tests can have whole sessions washed out and extra half hours added on, the telly execs know a Twenty20 match will last about 4 hours, no more.

This also means they can fit in two or three a day in the height of summer as they have done for the Twenty20 World Cup which begins in England on Friday.

The scheduling will allow viewers to watch all of the games one after another, much like in the football World Cup.

And, with the action condensed, spectators are kept on the edges of their seats.

Finally, two words on the ticket prices for Twenty20 - very reasonable. At £12 for 40 overs and nigh on four hours of entertainment, you can't complain.

It even looks as if I'll get a tan thrown in for free!