The Cult Spreads

[Beny]

The overwhelming turnout for the first two Twenty20 games in Australia was noticed by the head of Cricket Australia, James Sutherland, who has said that this form of the game will be played at state level next season. Over 20,000 people watched Australia A and Pakistan compete at the Adelaide Oval, while Western Australia played Victoria in front of a full house.

http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...14JAN2005.html

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Sutherland

We want to make sure that in a demographic sense, that cricket in whatever form can in some way appeal to all Australians and this is a great opportunity for us to capture part of the Australian demographic that we don't ordinarily capture

Summarise my point entirely. This is not for the Purist, it is for those who normaly would not attend the game. As a form of Cricket it is not great (I have to admit that when I have been I have felt a tad robbed) but it is for those with a causual intrest in the a game.

I am not a great fan of it becoming an additional to the International calendar though, and agree that it may be best use to generate intrest in Domestic cricket

[Occasional Fan]

With you completely on that, FF.

[flanflinger]

Having said all that I will be going to every Twenty20 game at the Oval this year, cheering on the Lions..and am hoping to get tickets for the Final this year

[Beny]

http://www.cricket.com.au/portal/site/cricketaustralia/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.26d58ed38fdc797e6918d6104420a2a0/?javax.portlet.tpst=564a1abceda4354bd0db701025d62d bc_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_564a1abceda4354bd0db701 025d62dbc_viewID=content&javax.portlet.prp_564a1ab ceda4354bd0db701025d62dbc_docName=States%20to%20co ntest%20Twenty%2020%20cricket%20competition%3B%20P erth%2C%20Hobart%20and%20Adelaide%20to%20host%20up graded%20international%20cricket%20next%20summer&j avax.portlet.prp_564a1abceda4354bd0db701025d62dbc_ folderPath=%2Fv7%2Fcricketaustralia%2FHomepage%2F& javax.portlet.begCacheTok=token&javax.portlet.endC acheTok=token

Twenty 20 will make its formal Australian debut next summer with a six-game interstate competition to be played in January 2006 and Perth, Hobart and Adelaide will host upgraded international cricket.

[Seamer]

FF, This game is a growing monster i feel. If the popularity grows too much, it could kill 50 over games and possibly damage tests. Channel 9(Aus broadcaster) has recently said that 50 over cricket was "dead" had become "boring" and 20/20 should become a fixture of the international season. Is it possible that the nation that created this excellent game(tests) may,ironically, be the ones that destroy it?