The cricket money is chasing increasingly shorter versions of game. Time was when matches were played over an indefinite period. An Eng-Aus match in the 1800s apparently ran to nine days and ended only because the Aussies had to catch their boat home - the absence of a well developed in flight entertainment system meant there were no planes in those days.We- unlike average match durations - have come a long way since.
The 20/20 WC began yesterday. (Had Gayle lased a few overs longer it would probably have concluded yesterday as well). Three hour cricket matches ! What a spectacle and what a sight ! Lights , sexy cheerleaders , colours , sexy cheerleaders , Slam-Bam-Thank-You-Ajit runfests , sexy cheerleaders ….. Whoa ! It will go down a storm. As the philosopher has said (or was that a PowerPoint presentation ?) , this is the age of instant gratification - no wicked smirks please – and it can’t seem to get instant enough
Looking ahead , this is the evolutionary ladder that I just saw on my crystal ball (bought at at an instantly gratifying sale ):
Ten 10 cricket :
Five overs of Powerplay , boundaries shortened , bowlers docked points for each wicket
Five5 cricket :
Three overs of Powerplay , boundaries shortened further , wickets to cost bowlers match fee percentage , bowlers declared endangered species
Three 3 cricket :
Two overs of Powerplay , boundaries at 20 yards , bowlers awarded special constitutional privileges
One1 cricket :
Four balls of Powerplay , boundaries at 15 yards , bowlers used by vets to treat cases of depression among mules
Zero O cricket :
Match decided by the toss
Minus One -1 cricket :
Same as One1 – only , each team now plays for the other
Huh ? That one doesn’t sound very plausible. Let me check up on that crystal ball.
Uh oh , problem . Its a kookabulla.
