Licence to Thrill Part Three

by Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (July 2^nd 2009)[1]

Editor’s Note – April 18^th 2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is underway. It is main club t20tournament in the world, although England’s new white ball (limited overs) captain, Yorkshire’s Harry Brook[2] has prioritised his country’s needs above the riches he could have earned in the IPL. Brook pulled out of the IPL for the second consecutive year after participating in the auction. In 2024 it was due to the death of his grandmother, but this time it was to ‘recharge his batteries’.

Following frustration from teams over late withdrawals, the IPL has initiated two-year bans for withdrawals that are not for medical or family-related reasons. Brook’s withdrawal left his team, the Delhi Capitals in a mess, struggling to replace him. Nevertheless, they sit proudly at top of the standings of the 2025 tournament, having won five of their six matches so far with eight remaining in the group stage.

We are publishing these articles from our archive again as we believe T20 has a very important role to play in the development of cricket then and now.

The Editor

Striking The Right Balance

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently considering ways to preserve public interest in Test cricket. Among the proposals is one to reduce it from five days to four and play day/night matches, but if players are asked which format they prefer, the answer is clear that they judge their careers on the longer form.

The public, however, prefer Twenty20. Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara has an interesting idea to capitalise on the popularity of Twenty20 cricket to ensure the future of Test cricket.

“I think that Twenty20 cricket shouldn’t harm Test cricket,” he said Sangakkara. “Test cricket should be the primary form of the game and should have prime spot and prime importance. There’s been a lot of talk about Test cricket not making enough TV revenue, but I think we can balance our Twenty20 and one-day cricket and inject some of that into maintaining Test cricket.”

It is an interesting and important opinion that should be listened to[3].

Sangakkara echoes the opinion of most players around the world regarding Test cricket. “If you ask Test cricketers around the world, I think every single player will admit to the fact that Test cricket is the real test,” he says. “That’s what you’re recognised for playing. At the end of the day, not many people will go around telling you that they scored 2000 runs in Twenty20 cricket, but they will talk of scoring 10000 runs in Test cricket, so I think that is the final ambition of all cricketers and if you’re a good cricketer, you can play any format of the game, whether that’s any conditions.

We as Sri Lankans would love to play ten to twelve Test Matches a year and I’d like to see that day come very soon.”

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[1] This article was first published in the Magazine in 2009. It was originally not in two parts, but it has been split for the convenience of readers.

[2] Brook has been appointed England’s new captain for ODIs (one-day internationals) and Twenty20 matches. Brook had been Jos Buttler’s vice-captain. Buttler stepped down after England’s poor showing in the Champions Trophy in February 2025.

[3] It has been many years since Sangakkara told me his opinion. Twenty20 cricket is still here; it will stay, but Sangakkara’s wish for it to help fund Test cricket remains unfulfilled. Why?