Who says it’s just not cricket?

THE success of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup has added a new, exciting dimension to cricket.

There was everything one could ask for – good batsmanship, fine bowling, sixes galore, tense finishes – all in just over three hours. The fact that two teams who were rank outsiders made it to the final showed that the element of surprise was there in every game.

Sixes peppered many of the structures in the three stadiums in South Africa where the games were played. Many a champion bowler was made to look foolish as batsmen swatted good deliveries on to the stadium roofs.

The crowds loved it. They attended in full strength and even some of the day matches had good spectator interest.

The final between India and Pakistan was as tense as it gets and Pakistan were only one stroke away from victory. There were so many twists and turns in the plot that even Sherlock Holmes would have had his grey cells stretched.

India’s victory was a vote of confidence for the selectors who sent a fairly inexperienced side to the tournament. 

The younger Indian lads were fearless as they went about their task and showed their big match temperament at crucial junctures.

The biggest credit for India’s victory must go to their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Like his batting, he was aggressive in his captaincy too and was ready to take gambles when India were under pressure.

One of his best moves was to give Joginder Sharma the final over in the semifinal and final. Sharma was plundered earlier but Dhoni had faith that the bowler would deliver.

Dhoni’s captaincy is refreshing from India’s point of view. Most of India’s captains have tended towards being defensive and taking initiative has never been their forte.

India must now seriously consider Dhoni as a Test captain too. There is no point in opting for the senior members as this would only be short-term.

India’s hero was without doubt Yuvraj Singh. His six sixes in an over off England’s Stuart Broad confirmed his place in the history books of cricket. Though he did not fire in the final, Yuvraj did enough to ensure that India reached there.

Pakistan must not lose heart from their defeat by their biggest rival. The team did enough to suggest that they have a side for the future. Shoaib Malik, like Dhoni, proved to be an innovative captain who was not afraid to take risks.

The Pakistan board must also be commended for recalling the much-maligned Misbah-ul-Haq. Criticised by the media and former players, Misbaq played so well that he narrowly missed being the player of the tournament. That honour went to his team-mate Shahid Afridi, who bowled brilliant right through the tournament.

Australia will be bitterly disappointed by their failure in this tournament. Stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist admitted that their players were rusty after a long layoff from international cricket.

Australia were let down by their batting and their defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe was an insult to such a magnificent side. But Australia are sure to come back strongly and their opponents better beware.

New Zealand and South Africa were left by the wayside after playing so well at the start. The Kiwis have made it a habit of losing in the semifinal of top tournaments. However, captain Daniel Vettori bowled superbly while Craig McMillan showed audacity in the middle-order.

South Africa started like a steamroller but ended their campaign in a whimper. They just had to get to a total of 126 to keep the Kiwis out but they failed. The South Africans ignored a top player like Jacques Kallis which may have proved their downfall.

Sri Lanka set the record for the highest total in a Twenty20 international but they fell away as the tournament progressed. Their fortunes plummetted as the form of their top batsman Sanath Jaysuriya got worse.

England did not credit themselves well in the tournament. Much was expected of them but they rarely looked intimidating.

Bangladesh started the event as if they had a train to catch but a confused state of mind put an end to their challenge. But the Bangladeshis were a treat to watch whenever they got going.

Zimbabwe surprised themselves by beating Australia and gave a fairly good account of themselves considering their lack of experience. But Kenya and Scotland looked out of place and both will need to do more at the domestic level to pose any serious challenge.

The Twenty20 World Cup has given cricket lovers a thrilling experience. There is no doubt that this form of the game has come to stay.