Twenty20 cricket match

Since its introduction in 2003 by the ECB, the Twenty20 format of cricket has rocketed in popularity, offering another enjoyable facet for the games legions of followers and inspiring a whole new generation of cricket fans thanks to its frenetic pace and brief duration. 

Although largely adhering to cricket’s traditional in-play rules, the Twenty20 game offers a very different experience to the spectator. Sides bat just one highly compressed innings apiece – in contrast to the 40 or 50 over format of usual one-day cricket, innings last just twenty overs, often equating to around 75 minutes of big-hitting action per side. 

In an effort to make the game swifter of pace, umpires can award penalties for perceived time wasting and alacrity is encouraged at all times. Fielding restrictions add another interesting tactical facet and the limited available time at the crease allows batsmen freedom to attack bowlers and value their wicket less cautiously – creating ample opportunity for quick fire runs and dramatic dismissals.

Twenty20 requires different skills than those associated with the sort of classical innings-builders who advance to Test legend status, and since 2005 (the year of the first international match of this style) a breed of brash, fit, big-hitting stars have come to the fore in the short-form game.

The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 evidences the place of the game firmly in the modern sporting canon – a remarkably fast acceptance for the sport to rest alongside its more traditional bedfellows.  With twilight starts to encourage spectators, the widespread usage of music to herald the twists and turns of the match and the attention grabbing sub-three hour duration of the game, Twenty20 offers frenetic entertainment without sacrificing the tactical ingenuity and deftness of technique required to succeed in this beautiful, intriguing sport in any of its forms.