T20 cricket, the way it has developed, is unbalanced in favour of batsmen. Hitting the ball excitingly is the game’s signature. Batsmen are the stars, bowlers are the bit-players. The fact that a batsman is not limited in the number of overs he can bat, while no bowler can bowl more than 4, is just one indication of how the wind blows. The greatest attraction in the game is by far the batsmen.
This batting bias will always be there in the T20 game. Boundaries, and particularly sixes, will be hailed, wickets and dot balls will remain obscure incidentals. Indeed, spectacular fielding and catching also take precedence over bowling performances. Only the most vivid of fast Yorkers spread-eagling all three stumps will bring the dancers out on their platforms. The crack and high trajectory of a mighty six is what sets a tumult in the crowd. It is one of the chief things they come to watch. I cannot see this changing. T20 will always be a batting-biased game. Indeed, any too ambitious attempt to change this bias runs the risk of upsetting what is working well at the turnstiles – removing, God forbid, some popular flavour from the fast-food feast.
However, perhaps too much of a good thing is in danger of
