Of T20, ODI and Test matches
There has been quite a few concerns raised by the cricket 'experts' about the overdose of T20 (IPL in particular) cricket being played. They 'fear' the youngsters will take it to T20 cricket more than the Test cricket, which is the 'pinnacle' of the game.
I have to completely disagree with these experts on this. The main worry of the experts is that there is so much money at stake in the T20 format that youngsters will be lured into it and they will abandon playing for country (read Test cricket). Now, what is wrong with earning money? You can't select every good cricketer to represent the country (only 11 'best' can play!). These IPLs and T20s give the youngsters a different avenue to realize their potential and earn money too.
I see this T20 preference to be a pragmatic option left before a cricket youngster today. If at all the ICC want to promote the Test cricket, it definitely needs to be made more exciting, especially to the spectators. Market it much better. How about promoting club level test matches (they are already there I guess) by the ICC? why not let the same IPL teams play Test cricket? Why should the Test cricket be restricted to be only a international sport? Why can't the ICC give 'status' to club level Test cricket as well? Leave the marketing of the Test cricket to the respective clubs. I think, the clubs with their huge MARCOM resource will do a much better job of promoting the format than the ICC. In this way they will also create a huge job market as well!
All these traditional/purists view of Test cricket won't hold water when it comes to the pragmatic options before the cricket player. At the end of the day, he needs to put bread on the plate for his family. If the IPL/T20 gives him a much better means of doing this, he is going to prefer that option. Why struggle in the hot sun for 5 days to earn when you can earn much more money by playing for 21/2 hours? Obviously, he is earning his money only by lawful means, albeit a bit disproportionate to the effort.
These arguments are similar to what I hear when I started my career as a Software Professional. Yes, it definitely had a much better remuneration package than any other field. There are (still) few young professionals who get distracted by the amount of money they earn being in this profession. My father or any one of the previous generations couldn't think of the money the current generation of Software professionals are earning. Does this mean it is a BAD profession, because it pays more? Certainly not, much of the GDP growth that India is projecting is because of this profession and I'm really proud of it.
I definitely see a huge similarity between the IPL and the IT sector boom in India. We have this belief that any profession that brings in huge money is a distraction to the youngster. Money always spoils the kid. I beg to disagree on this. There are certainly cases where the young kid been 'spoilt' but there are many others who are not. I see the majority here and would like the IPL/T20 to boom. Let it create more avenues for the country. Let the IPL boom make India a much better nation.
I have to completely disagree with these experts on this. The main worry of the experts is that there is so much money at stake in the T20 format that youngsters will be lured into it and they will abandon playing for country (read Test cricket). Now, what is wrong with earning money? You can't select every good cricketer to represent the country (only 11 'best' can play!). These IPLs and T20s give the youngsters a different avenue to realize their potential and earn money too.
I see this T20 preference to be a pragmatic option left before a cricket youngster today. If at all the ICC want to promote the Test cricket, it definitely needs to be made more exciting, especially to the spectators. Market it much better. How about promoting club level test matches (they are already there I guess) by the ICC? why not let the same IPL teams play Test cricket? Why should the Test cricket be restricted to be only a international sport? Why can't the ICC give 'status' to club level Test cricket as well? Leave the marketing of the Test cricket to the respective clubs. I think, the clubs with their huge MARCOM resource will do a much better job of promoting the format than the ICC. In this way they will also create a huge job market as well!
All these traditional/purists view of Test cricket won't hold water when it comes to the pragmatic options before the cricket player. At the end of the day, he needs to put bread on the plate for his family. If the IPL/T20 gives him a much better means of doing this, he is going to prefer that option. Why struggle in the hot sun for 5 days to earn when you can earn much more money by playing for 21/2 hours? Obviously, he is earning his money only by lawful means, albeit a bit disproportionate to the effort.
These arguments are similar to what I hear when I started my career as a Software Professional. Yes, it definitely had a much better remuneration package than any other field. There are (still) few young professionals who get distracted by the amount of money they earn being in this profession. My father or any one of the previous generations couldn't think of the money the current generation of Software professionals are earning. Does this mean it is a BAD profession, because it pays more? Certainly not, much of the GDP growth that India is projecting is because of this profession and I'm really proud of it.
I definitely see a huge similarity between the IPL and the IT sector boom in India. We have this belief that any profession that brings in huge money is a distraction to the youngster. Money always spoils the kid. I beg to disagree on this. There are certainly cases where the young kid been 'spoilt' but there are many others who are not. I see the majority here and would like the IPL/T20 to boom. Let it create more avenues for the country. Let the IPL boom make India a much better nation.
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