“All formats can co-exist. THE YOUNGSTERS should know what cricket represents. Why the 50 overs game was started and why the Twenty20 version has come in,” Viv Richards tells G. VISWANATH.
Vivian Richards had a trademark swagger. And that itself made him quite an intimidating batsman. This was even before he took guard and surveyed the field. He made his debut against India in 1974, scored his maiden Test century at the Feroz Shah Kotla and thereafter went on to amass runs against Indian bowlers. And like many West Indians, he became quite popular. Easily one of the greatest batsmen of modern times, Richards looks as fit as one can be at 65. He had been invited for the Goa Fest as a guest speaker by the entertainment, media and communication company, ITW Playworx, and he spoke many things cricket, including his view that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been instrumental in keeping the interest alive in traditional Test match cricket.
Excerpts from an interview:
Question: The IPL is in its 10th year. What has it done for world cricket?
Answer: In my opinion, the IPL has sent a great message. I think it came at a time when Test match cricket was on a downward spiral. What it has created more than anything else is the family sort of environment around the matches. It’s just been phenomenal. Twenty20 itself has given the game, on an overall basis, the kiss of life.
Almost all the countries have embraced Twenty20. There is the Caribbean Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League and two more big leagues are to be established in South Africa and England...
This story is from the April 22, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
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This story is from the April 22, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
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