Cricket is at a crossroads. The explosion of commercial T20 league cricket around the world, while presenting an opportunity to spread the sport, also has the potential to impact longer formats. Or more importantly, how the game is taught.
The onslaught of the shortest format of cricket (or rather, multiple shorter formats) has also begun taking a toll on players with some opting to retire from Test or One Day cricket to prolong their careers. It has also led to a scenario where aspiring cricketers might choose to focus solely on the money-making machine that is T20 cricket over the traditional formats of the game. While that is entirely understandable to sustain a career, the basics of the sport will still need to be strong.
Regardless of what players choose, say former India cricketer Snehal Pradhan and former first-class cricketer K Jeshwanth, the upbringing of the players must remain the same.
Speaking on a panel discussion at the Sports Law and Policy Symposium 2022 in Bengaluru, Jeshwanth, now the Director and head coach of SIX cricket said, “Don Bradman played cricket with a bat and ball. Today, Suryakumar Yadav is also playing with a bat and ball. Nothing has changed (in that aspect).”
Stating that change is most often welcomed, he added,…
