What Is Your Favourite Form Of The Game To Watch

[cripple]

I prefer to watch a good game. Wether that be a test, franger cup or 20/20 does not bother me. As long as there is a good contest involved i dont really see how the form of the contest should matter as to wether or not you like it. There is not a sport in the world that hasn't evolved because of TV money and that is all that 20/20 cricket has done. If you choose to blast off about it not being "real cricket" feel free to sit in the corner and watch on as everyone enjoys watching players show off the skills that they have. If you, like me, can enjoy both forms then do so and recognise them for what they are, after all it still is a battle between the bat and ball.

[Rik E Boy]

Wrong Teeball is the battle between bat and bat and therefore it is not real cricket. It is a cynical marketing ploy designed to replace the declining funds generated by 50 over cricket. The skills on show that you speak of are not exclusive to Teeball or Limited over cricket. People can slog in test matches as well. But what they can't do in Teeball is build an innings build up pressure on batsman through bowling plans and set proper cricket fields.

Cheers,

REB

[spell_check]

20/20 for me is generally my favourite form to WATCH only bcos captains like Ponting & Co. have killed Test cricket with his lack of control over HIS players ANTICS and LABORIOUSLY SLOW over rates.

If they killed Test cricket, how come it's as popular as ever?

Apart from the ASHES, how can you say that Test cricket is a s popular as ever ?????

Crowds are down in all countries and even some of the players are giving it away in preference for the shorter version.

Personally, i'm a BIG fan of Test cricket and hope that it remains strong but when it comes to watching, Test cricket AT TIMES it is laboriously slow and dull where as a 20/20 is generally Action Action Action.

Where are the figures though? As I said, I can only go on what I see on TV, and that is India and the West Indies are two that come to mind.

I can give you Australian ground figures and they prove that Test Cricket here is as strong as ever. This year was always going to be a downer with West Indies particularly, however, but you can bet over the next couple of years with England and India involved the crowds will soar again.


This is Adelaide Ovals' average crowd per day for each country since 1972:
England:
1974/75: 19865
1978/79: 14187
1982/83: 15185
1986/87: 9344
1990/91: 15735
1994/95: 17890
1998/99: 14431
2002/03: 19627
2006/07: 27352

India:
1977/78: 12330
1980/81: 9461
1985/86: 6063
1991/92: 11537
1999/00: 13122
2003/04: 15004
2007/08: 19545

New Zealand:
1973/74: 7464
1987/88: 6017
2004/05: 12138
2008/09: 14194

Pakistan:
1972/73: 7572
1976/77: 12427
1983/84: 8147
1989/90: 10116

South Africa:
1993/94: 15927
1997/98: 14869
2001/02: 15511

Sri Lanka:
1995/96: 12696

West Indies:
1975/76: 21599
1979/80: 15553
1981/82: 21554
1984/85: 11236
1988/89: 11696
1992/93: 14393
1996/97: 17109
2000/01: 12297
2005/06: 13868
2009/10: 10403

Every team has had an increase on the last figure than the one before it, except West Indies. But that of course was inevitable.

[Adelaide Hawk]

20/20 for me is generally my favourite form to WATCH only bcos captains like Ponting & Co. have killed Test cricket with his lack of control over HIS players ANTICS and LABORIOUSLY SLOW over rates.

If they killed Test cricket, how come it's as popular as ever?

Apart from the ASHES, how can you say that Test cricket is a s popular as ever ?????

Crowds are down in all countries and even some of the players are giving it away in preference for the shorter version.

Personally, i'm a BIG fan of Test cricket and hope that it remains strong but when it comes to watching, Test cricket AT TIMES it is laboriously slow and dull where as a 20/20 is generally Action Action Action.

If I conceded there has been the odd game of Test cricket over the years that has been "boring", surely you can find many examples of 20/20 also being boring. You're being dazzled by the coloured clothing, music and hypo ground announcers ... things used to perfection to distract people from the fact there's really not a lot going on. I never cease to be amazed at how easily people are taken in by clever marketing.

[rod_rooster]

20/20 for me is generally my favourite form to WATCH only bcos captains like Ponting & Co. have killed Test cricket with his lack of control over HIS players ANTICS and LABORIOUSLY SLOW over rates.

If they killed Test cricket, how come it's as popular as ever?

Apart from the ASHES, how can you say that Test cricket is a s popular as ever ?????

Crowds are down in all countries and even some of the players are giving it away in preference for the shorter version.

Personally, i'm a BIG fan of Test cricket and hope that it remains strong but when it comes to watching, Test cricket AT TIMES it is laboriously slow and dull where as a 20/20 is generally Action Action Action.

If I conceded there has been the odd game of Test cricket over the years that has been "boring", surely you can find many examples of 20/20 also being boring. You're being dazzled by the coloured clothing, music and hypo ground announcers ... things used to perfection to distract people from the fact there's really not a lot going on. I never cease to be amazed at how easily people are taken in by clever marketing.

[rod_rooster]

Wrong Teeball is the battle between bat and bat and therefore it is not real cricket. It is a cynical marketing ploy designed to replace the declining funds generated by 50 over cricket. The skills on show that you speak of are not exclusive to Teeball or Limited over cricket. People can slog in test matches as well. But what they can't do in Teeball is build an innings build up pressure on batsman through bowling plans and set proper cricket fields.

Cheers,

REB

[smithy]

Your hands must be getting sore by now ROd ?

[rod_rooster]

Your hands must be getting sore by now ROd ?

Thankfully i let the computer do my clapping so my hands are fine

As for my posts i have no more to add. REB and AH have summed things up very well and i just wanted to show my appreciation

[cripple]

Wrong Teeball is the battle between bat and bat and therefore it is not real cricket. It is a cynical marketing ploy designed to replace the declining funds generated by 50 over cricket. The skills on show that you speak of are not exclusive to Teeball or Limited over cricket. People can slog in test matches as well. But what they can't do in Teeball is build an innings build up pressure on batsman through bowling plans and set proper cricket fields.

Cheers,

REB

Just because a plan in a test match takes 90+ overs doesn't mean you don't plan or build an innings in T20 cricket. The most successful players of the shortest form are not the blind sloggers, but those with the guts and nouse to value their wicket whilst also using innovation in their approach to the game. The advent of T20 has had a flow on effect to all areas of cricket and has forced captains, batsmen and especially bowlers to develop different approaches to their game to be successful. If it was simply teeball as you insist, every batsmen would be making 50 runs with a strike rate of 400 every game. This is not happening and so far the big bash has seen its fair share of fantastic catches, great run outs and smart bowling that has bamboozled batsmen. The smart players are using it to improve their personal games and i am just happy that i get to watch.

[Booney]

20/20 for me is generally my favourite form to WATCH only bcos captains like Ponting & Co. have killed Test cricket with his lack of control over HIS players ANTICS and LABORIOUSLY SLOW over rates.

Is that because they bowl 86 instead of the 90 required? Laborious indeed.

[Jimmy]

test cricket anytime....not a huge fan of 1 dayers and 20/20 cricket...well that can go suck it!

[Turbo]

Get rid of the ODI's. Test cricket is real cricket whereas 20/20 has a place and that is sparking interest in the game again. The majority of people want to be excited by sport and do not understand the strategy of test cricket and will prefer 20/20. Purists will love test cricket

[Hondo]

I wonder how many self proclaimed test cricket purists secretly watch the Big Bash and then feel guilt ridden afterwards?

Or, don't feel guilty at all so long as no-one finds out!

[RoosterMarty]

Not a bad crowd at Adelaide Oval tonight too.

[Dutchy]

I mainly enjoy T20 cause it is on at night when the kids are in bed and I can watch it in peace....must admit I enjoy it and Test cricket obviously, 50/50 cricket bores me to tears and I have little interest in it these days.

On the T20 debate i think it is ideal at the domestic level and thats where it should stay, doesnt do anything for me at the international level...

[Dogwatcher]

Love Test cricket.
I put up with ODIs because it extends the cricketing summer.

As for 20/20. It will never hold my interest in the way that Test cricket, or even ODIs do.
However, I see a place for it as it provides an avenue into cricket for less ingrained fans than myself, REB and AH (as examples).
It also evens the game up as there's more chance of success for both sides. From what I've seen - a few lucky breaks and either side can win. It's not so much about technique and placement but power and creativity - which means the average player has a place as a batsman. I think it may be an opening to the game for some of the associate countries to play the more established nations more regularly.
However, that doesn't mean I'll ever like the game as much as Test cricket, nor do I have to.

The thing I often wonder - do the bastardised versions of rugby union garner this much debate among fans? Or is there greater acceptance?