Does the Success of the Indian Premier League Signal the Decline of 50 Over Cricket?
When 50 over cricket appeared in 1971, it was as an alternative to Test cricket. Matches could be decided in one day, a winner was virtually guaranteed and a world cup of cricket became viable. The five day version stood unaltered and unthreatened and thrives to this day – the fascinating five day battle between bat and ball remains and there is no suggestion that Twenty 20 cricket will have a detrimental effect on the oldest form of the game any more than the 50 over version did on its inception. Instead, it is traditional one day cricket that is threatened. Everything that is attractive about it as an alternative to Test matches is amplified in twenty over matches. A winner is produced in around three hours and the match itself is more exciting – supporters love seeing sixes hit and this is the secret of success in Twenty 20. More importantly, the matches remain ‘alive’ for longer. The most exciting parts of 50 over matches are at the beginning and end of each innings, when teams see
