And why shouldn't Murali do this ? Wouldn't the Sri Lankan Board have been consulted before he made his decision ? He's reached the stage where he wants to prolong his international career for as long as possible. On that basis I'd imagine this is precisely the kind of tournament he'd want to miss, and the Board too if they were of a similar mind. No doubt someone with his skills would be missed but it's time SL Cricket started to look beyond Murali, Vaas, Jayasuriya, Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Malinga............look on it as an ideal opprtunity to bring a new face into the side rather than a missed opportunity.

Besides, he is a plier of a trade. All things being equal (commitments, contracts etc), why shouldn't he ply that trade where the money is best (assuming the money at Lancs is better) ? Cricketers have a limited shelf-life. He's got a family to think of, for him not to consider playing for Lancs if it was more attractive financially would be nothing short of stupid. I love what I do and where I work but if the BIG cheque came along to do something else I wouldn't turn it down without some serious consideration.

Murali can show his commitment to SL Cricket by committing to touring Australia in November. That would be a much more meaningful statement of intent on more than one level.

I'm going to make it my business to never watch 20/20 ever from now on.

I think that we all have to look at it this way, yes twenty20 cricket is not real cricket and it is a disgrace that the ICC have made a twenty20 World Cup but when you country is playing and wants you to represent it you have to go and do your best.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Fine, if you want to take that attitude, that is up to you. I actually enjoy Tweny20's and Tests.

Twenty20's attract women, young children and casual observers of the game into grounds, the game has done wonders for the finances of the County teams and has packed out grounds that are used to having two men a sheep and a dog attending. If you want to ignore/dismiss it that is up to you.

But please don't bore me about your dislike of it...

I happen to love the game of Cricket and all it's forms, it must be one of the most flexible sports around. Surely to make the sport available we need to keep all the different versions of the game?

I am also a big rugby fan, but do I hear Rugby fans going out about sevens rugby, or football fans waxing lyrical about the dangers of indoor five-a-side... no I don't!! Only Cricket fans could be that conceited and stuck firmly up their own arses that they could even consider maintaining the "purity of the game". It is just rubbish.

For me the game is bigger than that, and should be available in the format that best suits the young fan as well as the long standing fan.

Twenty-20 is about as likely to destroy Test cricket, as ODI's were 30 years ago. But look how Test cricket has changed, increased run rates, better fielding, greater use of slower balls, all are due to ODI's and this is making Test cricket a better game to watch. I have no doubt Twenty20 will do the same.

First, Rugby is'nt sport, it's a bar fight with a ball.

Secondly, The point about 20/20 is that the format simply does'nt work. All sense of skill, tactics, tradition ect. are either damaged or destroyed by it and players have every right to turn their nose up, as do fans. Just because it's popular does'nt make it any good. Before you put too much faith in people power just remember G.W Bush.

What's most disturbing about the game is the potential effect it has on players skills, and class acts like Murali should'nt be exposed to it.

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It's hard enough to remember my opinions, without remembering my reasons for them!
Nietzsche

How can you consider 20/20 a form of cricket? Seriously, it is not a contest between bat and ball whatsoever! Who can blame Murali not wanting to take part? A spinner has no chance! Sure more people take notice of 20/20, but only because they enjoy seeing a ball blasted around a park, not for what cricket really is.

Come on, lets just keep making the bats bigger; keep bringing in the boundary ropes further and further; make wide call even more common. In fact, lets make sure the game is as difficult for bowler as possible, and make it as easy for the batsman as possible.

YK#1 and Beny,

Boys, you are dinosaurs... unless the game reaches a younger audience in 15-20 years it will be a game watched by old men... But you can have your close the door mentality and Test cricket will suffer

Twenty20 attracts new people to the game, they enjoy it and they go to the games. These are people who would never go near a Test or a County game.

My friend James has been with me to a few Twenty20's he would never go to a County game, but the format works for him. After a few years of watching Twenty20 he wanted to go to a Test, before Twenty20 he would never have done that.

The crowd is full of kids, women and younger fans. Some of these will go on to watch Test Cricket, what is wrong with that?

Test cricket will remain, but if you cut off new formats and new ideas, then Test Cricket will suffer.

If you knew anything about Twenty20, you will know that spinners can be the most effective bowlers, as the pace taken off the ball means that the batsman has to do more.

PS should caveat what I have said by adding that I will support Murali in not playing Twenty20, and am not convinced that there should be Twenty20 World Cup.

The best place for Twenty20 is at domestic level, I am not so convinced that a World Cup is the best step forward.

The thought process I have is that in Rugby 7's the England team looks very different from the full 15, so for me it would be best if the Twenty20 game was played by specialist team, in the same way that the Hong Kong Sixes is...

The difference between my point of view is this, I believe there is a place for Twenty20, but not necessarily the path the ICC are heading down.

I'm amazed at the reaction to Twenty20! I thought the english were supposed to be the dinosaurs, stuk in the past and afraid to move forward?

Anyone who choses to miss Twenty20 cricket is quite within their rights and I won't knock them. However, those who chose to play and enjoy it, and there are many who do, should not be criticised for doing so. Twenty20 will bring more supporters to the game. As a tournament, the 20/20 World Cup is not much more than a money making exercise but I won't miss it on telly. It'll be good fun and won't last too long or bore us.

Ok this is just my opinion, ODI cricket is not real cricket ad neither is twenty20, I still watch it and enjoy it but I don't take it seriously like I do with test cricket. Murali should be representing his country.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.