Test Cricket and T20

The thinking of most us including me is too much white ball cricket especially T20 has been to the detriment of batting in Test cricket. 'They've lost the art of building an innings.' This last match has begun to change my mind.

The Indian commentator on TMS was firmly of the opinion that the IPL was producing a production line of fine batsmen that would adapt brilliantly to Test cricket. Centurion Jaiswal was just one of many coming through and then of course there's Rishabh Pant. He was just one of a few on both sides who started slowly and then let lose at the right time with shots never dreamt of pre T20.

So far from T20 being the death of Test Cricket could it be the saviour? There were 1673 runs in the 5 days that's as many as 500 more than might been scored a few years ago. Fields were for set T20 shots such as the reverse sweep or the ramp leaving gaps elsewhere increasing run rate. Back in the day this would have been a boring 5 day draw not a thrilling high scoring win. And T20 cricket was a big part of that.

On a slightly different note. I saw Duckett score a 6 with a reverse sweep. I took my bat and had a go a reproducing the shot without the added difficulty of having to hit a ball. Absolutely no idea how they do it let alone with the power to clear the boundary. What I didn't understand was Stokes playing the reverse sweep to every ball when he looked likely to get out everyone he played, Sure enough he did to an extra fielder put the for exactly that shot