Matthew Hayden criticises T20 format for producing batsmen not suited to live wickets – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Lawrence-Hayden-c75233, the former Australian opening batsman, thinks that the T20 format of cricket breeds furious and fast batsmen who are unable to play comfortably and confidently on the live and seam-friendly pitches. However, he maintains that the version
must be adopted to entertain the cricket lovers and spectators who find more thrill and interest in the 20-over games.
As the T20 matches require batsmen to hit hard and spare no delivery, Hayden opines that the batsmen, who are trained in and used to the limited-over cricket, are unable to face the bouncy and swinging balls on the wickets which pose to be fast and grassy.
Talking to the media, today, Hayden said, “It is a totally different mind space. We grew up leaving the ball and now it is all about hitting the ball and I think that has changed the way cricket is played. In shield cricket you can see on wickets that are
green and seaming that there are not many batters who have a technique that can deal with that.”
Commenting on his adaptation to the nature of 20-over format, he told, “I would have changed my game if it was around earlier and later I did change my game because I was in a space where the game was changing around me and I became a much better power hitter.”
The only plus point that the former opener finds in the T20 cricket is its ability to attract viewers. Being based on limited overs, the format suits better to the cricket lovers who have less time but desire to enjoy sensational live games.
Since its inception at the world stage, T20 cricket has spread like wild fire in every nook and corner of the globe and attained blockbuster success. Apart from a full-fledged http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 and mandatory inclusion of at least one or two matches in every
bilateral series, there is abundance of the domestic T20 leagues which are packed with cash and cricket for the players, sponsors, and viewers alike.
Hayden argues that the T20 matches pose to be family events as the people of all age groups like to watch them.
The 39-year-old retired from International cricket in 2009 after playing 103 Tests, 161 ODIs and 9 T20Is.
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