http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wajahatullah-Wasti-c2776 believes T20 cricket is bad for technique – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 born cricketer, Wajahatullah Wasti, feels that T20 has brought more harm to cricket than good.
The 37-year-old admitted that the shortest format is intriguing and has drawn crowds to the stadiums; however, technically batsmen have suffered a lot because of T20.
While giving an interview to Pakpassion the opening batsman said, “I feel that T20 cricket for all the entertainment it provides to crowds, has caused a lot of harm to openers and their technique.”
The right-hander held that the temperament of playing big lengthy knocks is not there anymore, as batsmen look to play big shots and score quick runs from the start of their innings instead of setting their eye in first.
He said, “Nowadays, a team cannot play the full 50-overs because they are used to playing out only 20 overs. Teams can just about score 200-230 runs and as a result, the batsmen have lost the temperament of playing longer innings.”
Wasti, who is the holder of 15 ODI caps for the Men in Green, believes that standard of cricket as a whole has declined since the advent of T20 cricket in 2005.
Comparing today’s cricketers with their predecessors, Wasti said, “While T20 has provided the crowd entertainment, it has damaged cricket. If you look all over the world, you no longer see the standard of cricket or players that
would be seen in 1999-2003.”
For Wasti, who represented Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup final against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, knowing where the off-stump is, is of great essence for an opening batsman, as it helps decide which ball to play and which to leave.
However, according to Wasti most batters at the present time, including the likes of India’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301, rely mostly on hand eye coordination. The 37-year-old further added that these batsmen suffer
extended lean patches because they are not technically sound and a batsmen who has a proper technique will shine in every format be it Test, ODI or T20.
Wasti has played six Test matches for Pakistan in which he scored 329 runs at an average of 36.55. The right-handed opener also has two Test centuries to his name.
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