Stanford 20/20 is glorified baseball

It is amazing how we continue to be ‘bamboozled’ by the lure of the mighty ‘yankee’ dollar. Just wave it around and we are prepared to accept mediocrity, lower our standards and praise to the hilt this modern innovation of the game.

M Holding from the inception of 20/20 cricket, said he would have nothing to do with it as it was not ‘cricket,’ and I admire him for his stand. This recent version of the game is not cricket, but glorified baseball where one throws the bat at everything and it is a question of hit or miss. There is no question of improving the quality of shots, bowling good line and length, learning to concentrate or how to build an innings, mastering good bowling, all of which is sadly lacking in WI cricket.

I can’t help but express my disappointment in the way the ‘Legends’ are praising this version of the game, but guess one can sympathise with them, for over the years they played cricket they never saw this kind of money that is being paid to cricketers now.

These ‘Legends’ now get a chance to receive some of the free loot so are willing to praise this innovation.

The lack of support over the past few years at WI matches was mostly because for quite awhile the WI team has been playing mediocre cricket, and getting well paid at that, losing regularly with poor bowling, sloppy fielding and inept batting, unable to concentrate for long periods and collapsing to defeat after defeat with no fight. Recently we see a little more spirit being shown and hope it continues. The Caribbean is now being projected via TV attending in their numbers, this shortened version of the game by these ‘wine and wave’ supporters of players in colourful outfits suitable for any Carnival band.

Mr Stanford is a business man and all praise to him for his willingness to help WI cricket, from which he will also benefit as it is his airlines, his ground, his gym/club, TV rights etc. Could he not have been encouraged to invest this money into building one or two Cricket Academies in the Caribbean, similar to Australia, with all the facilities of a gym, training ground etc, where young cricketers could learn to develop their game?

J S KELSICK

St Ann’s