What Twenty – 20 Is All About
Cricket is one of the most loved games in sports world with a fan following in almost every country. Cricket goes back a long way and has a rich heritage. Over the years cricket has seen many variations and new forms of the games. We have test matches that are played over a period of five days, 50 over matches that are played over the course of a day and now we have a new world favourite Twenty – 20 cricket.
A new, fast paced version of the game!
20 – 20 originated in the U.K. in 2003. The game involves play of a maximum of 20 overs per team. The game is completed in less than 4 hours with each team batting for no more than 75 minutes. 20-20 cricket was created to breathe fresh life into the game, make more appealing for people across all ages and to people sitting in the stands or at home. 20- 20promises to be a part of cricket and doesn’t have any intention in replacing other forms of cricket. Let’s find out more about 20-20.
In T20 cricket players sit on the sidelines! Teams have special benches and chairs placed on the side of the field. This area is called a ‘dugout’ and each time as their own special ‘dugout’.
A bowler is allowed to bowl for a maximum of 4 overs. That means 1/5th of the total period of the innings.
The no ball is rule is little different here. Like in normal play an extra run and ball in provided for the over and also a ‘free – hit’. In case of a free hit no fielding changes can be made and a batsman cannot be declared out on account of a catch. Only run out, obstruction of field or handling of the ball can dismiss the batsman during a free – hit.
In
There are a few fielding restrictions in T20. The fielding side is not allowed to have more than five players on leg side at any point of the game.
In T20 you have a powerplay where only two players can be placed outside the outer 30 yard circle. In T20, it usually takes place in the first six overs of the game. After the powerplay the fielding side can place no more than 5 fielders outside the circle.
T20 is a quick game and time is taken seriously here. If the fielding team doesn’t bowl their last over within 75 minutes then the batting side is awarded 6 extra runs for every over bowled there after! It’s a way of penalising the fielding team and if they are playing extremely slowly the umpire can punish them further by adding to the six extra runs.
In case of a tie a mini match called the super over is played between 3 batsmen and one bowler from each team. The mini match is played for one over per side and is an elimination process. The side with the higher score wins!
T20 has gained recognition and importance over the last few years. We also have the T20 World Cup that was won by India in 2007, Pakistan in 2009 and England in 2010. The Twenty20 Cup is specifically between the English countries. The Indian Premiere League has taken 20-20 to another level. IPL just finished 3rd successful season.