Internet Desk: Huge Money in T-20 Cricket is creating imbalance in World Cricket specially hampering Test Cricket says former Australian Cricket team Captain Steve Waugh. “loyalty to money” which Twenty20 leagues all over the world is creating obstacle to bring balance between all three formats of cricket, reiterated Waugh speaking to Indian Media at the backstage of the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin.
Although Waugh feels Australia, England and India, are trying to strike balance in the three formats successfully unlike other countries. But the shorter format of the game is paying huge incentives which are leading to a decline in loyalty towards national duty.
“I think Australia is the closest when it comes to striking a balance, India has the potential and England is also coming up nicely, I think it’s impossible to strike a perfect balance given that there are three different teams. It’s not realistic. I don’t think there would ever be one World No.1 in all three formats of the game,” said the former Australian captain. “Somebody like Brendon McCullum retired from Test cricket even though he still had three-four years in him. He is just working for his family, which is alright. Overall I feel there is no loyalty to the team, there is loyalty to money now. I don’t blame the players but it’s tough on the fans,” Waugh said.
Attending the same program Waugh’s views were echoed by former England cricket legend Ian Botham, according to him “Test cricket is number one because it flows beautifully but there is shelf life for every format. And Twenty20 should be at the bottom of the priorities. People are saying it was a great World Twenty20 final last month. I say it was a great last four balls, the rest of the final was a drag. I think it was a pretty poor final,”
Botham also expressed his displeasure for the role of India towards world cricket. He Said “I am disappointed with Indian cricket right now. Cricket is more than just a 20-over game, they need to understand that. England’s contests with India always used to excite me but right now, I don’t know what to say,” Botham has some solid reasons to be disappointed as the last two away Test series in England saw India lose by 0-4 and 1-3 margins respectively. They have also lost a home Test series to England back in 2012.