Test cricket must remain the priority for young cricketers, says Arjuna Ranatunga – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Arjuna-Ranatunga-c45447, the former Sri Lankan captain, fears that T20 format is going to damage the game in the long run and expressed that Test cricket should remain the pinnacle of the game at any cost, being the ultimate test of a player’s
abilities.
Since the last decade, T20s have slowly but gradually become an integral part of the international sport. There is no doubt that it has helped the game become more popular around the globe because of the added entertainment.
However, there are many former cricketers who want the International Cricket Council (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625) to take appropriate measures, in order to secure the future of the five-day format, which is in severe danger of losing public interest.
The former Sri Lankan skipper, who led his country to the title triumph in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996, is of the view that T20s do not require proper technique or talent and any player can excel on a given day with some luck.
Ranatunga does not want to eliminate the shortest format from the game but wants to make sure that Test cricket is the priority of every upcoming cricketer.
"I always felt that with T20, it is all about the power rather than the talent and the mind controlling the game. It's entertainment. I won't say stop T20, but priority has to be given to Test cricket and one-day cricket," the former
Lankan captain expressed.
So far, three World T20s have been played since 2007, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
The former left-handed middle-order batsman feels that hard-hitting batsmen are more successful in the shorter format, as compared to technically solid players. Ranatunga wants the authorities to keep the junior cricket away from
T20s.
He added, "You need only power and a strong head. I am very scared that if we implement this at the junior level, we will lose proper cricket. Give a little time and ultimately, T20 will be ruled by those with power rather than those
with skill."
Tags: