A Letter To The (So Called) 'Purists'

Dear 'Purists',

This letter comes after reading much of what all of you think of the new 'slash-bang' form of Cricket (more popularly called T20), and frankly, all I have to say is: stop whining.

Stop whining about the fact that this form of cricket is not a fair contest between bat and ball. Because it is. Take the semi-final between India and Australia as a case in point. Or any of the two matches played before or after by India. Especially the final. It was won not by the alleged 'slog shots', but with disciplined bowling- and a sensible innings from Gambhir. And yes, all ten wickets were taken, thank you.

Stop whining about the fact that there is no place in the format for sensible batting. All the match-winning innings played throughout the tournament have been a result of a good cricketing mind, and some brilliant cricketing shots. If the format demanded a strike rate well over hundred, the batsmen seemed to respond impressively. Even the six sixes over Stuart Broad by Yuvraj Singh in that match-changing over were 'good cricketing shots', save one.

Stop whining about how cricket is being 'polluted' with all the song-and-dance, and the like. If a few cheerleaders and lowered ticket rates is what it takes to take the game to the masses, then so be it. Because let's face it- the heart of cricket lies not with the tea-sipping, leisure-loving, rich gentlemen (who like to say 'good shot mate' to the most dubious of shots) from some remote county in England- but with the big-dreaming village lad (with a heart the size of a cricket field) from the remotest parts of countries like India and Pakistan, who likes to work hard and celebrate harder.

Stop whining. Grow up. Times are changing, and cricket- for once- is going along. The bars have been raised- and there's no place for complacency. Bowlers have been presented with the challenge of restricting a team to less than eight runs an over, and the cream of the lot have resonded beautifully. The batsmen too have been under pressure to play good cricket without losing their minds, and they've proved they are up to the challenge. The fielding standards have been raised, and catches that would've been considered near-impossible before, have become common-place. And with that- the pace of running between the wickets, the fitness, the athleticism, the ability to think on one's feet- has gone several notches higher.

Accept the fact that the world cup gone by has ushered in a new era of cricket- and a pace and intensity never associated with the game has now become an integral part of it. It has truly become the 'survival of the fittest'- in every sense of the term- and the faster you accept that, the better for yourself.

Because Twenty20 Cricket is here to stay. Whether you like it or not.

With love,
A 'New-Age' fan :)