T20s have made Test cricket more result oriented - Sachin Tendulkar

FILE PHOTO: Sachin Tendulkar

After his latest achievement of being voted “the cricketer of the generation”, Sachin Tendulkar has emphasized that Test cricket and T20 format complement each other very well.

Underlining the importance of the traditional form that is Test cricket, Sachin said, “The ICC should take notice of it and organise more Test matches if they want Test cricket to survive. (However), I still believe Test cricket is in good hands, players are producing unbelievable cricket. If you see all across the world, most of the Test matches, they have results, very few Test matches are drawn games nowadays and that is due to introduction of T20 as well. It is complementing each other.”

Sachin pointed out the importance of a balance between different formats of the game.

The forty year old Little Master, who had taken his final bow last year in Mumbai, described the T20 format as the ideal one for new followers. He said, “If you want more guys to follow cricket, T20 is an ideal format to introduce people to cricket. And then gradually go on to one-day cricket and Test cricket. You can’t force someone to like Test cricket or be passionate about Test cricket. It is got to be within. If it doesn’t exist with some individual, you should not force him, leave him, let him play one-day and T20 cricket. The guys who are passionate about Test cricket should play Test cricket.”

He added, “Test cricket is the ultimate challenge when it comes to picking up wickets or scoring runs. It is one format where bowlers are constantly trying to get you out. In Tests, you require planning, vision and execution. It doesn’t happen that much in T20 cricket. You can face three balls and get back to the pavilion as a hero. It doesn’t happen in any other format.”

He also commented on ODIs, saying, “Earlier 260 was a good total. In ’92 World Cup or even ’96 World Cup, there were not huge totals. Now consistently you see 300-plus totals and this change, which is also because of the rules and also because of T20 cricket. Batsmen are prepared to take more chances. Batsmen are playing innovative shots and bowlers are developing more variations. In the 90s, I don’t think anyone bowled the slower ball bouncer like Shaun Pollock did in the latter stage of his career, now it’s a regular variation in T20.”