Eoin Morgan, England’s ICC World Cup winning captain, said that the T10 format of cricket is ideally suited for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. While promoting the first Abu Dhabi T10 featuring 10 teams that will be broadcast by Sony Pictures Network from November 14 to 24, the 33-year-old Dublin-born attacking left-hand batsman said that just as Twenty20 made an impact in international cricket, T10 will also entertain and popularise the game.
Morgan, who played his last Test in 2012 and began the journey of white-ball cricket, felt that a 60-ball game will cause as much buzz as the Twenty20 (120-ball game) did. “The role that T20 has played in growing and changing the game, I think T10 has a similar role to play. I say that for different reasons. T10 is one of the most entertaining formats for people to watch. It’s a minute avenue in the same way as T20 and saying to people that this is our sport and this is what it looks like. It’s a great little advert for the game; one can host a tournament in such a short space of time, say 10 teams in 12 days.
Selling point
“And that makes it such a selling point for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. We don’t know anything about the 100-ball tournament because we have not experienced it. I think it will be a success. I do believe that T10 could be ideal for the Olympics and CWG. A game only lasts 90 minutes. A lot of countries will prepare for the Games and financially back the sport.”
Touching upon the evolution of the game from Test to 50 over, T20 and now T10, Morgan believes that the game is in a healthy state at the moment. “Speaking on behalf of English cricket, it’s in a healthy place. We had the summer of a life time, winning the World Cup, seeing the popularity of the game rise a lot, ticket sales go through the roof and more integration with grass roots. The Ashes is popular anyway, the level of speculation and talk was extraordinary. I have not seen anything like this since 2005. Twenty20 compacted the most impactful overs of the game. The PowerPlay and last overs have become important. In T10, every over and every ball is important. The momentum changes in about six or seven overs in 50 over cricket and two or three overs in T20 cricket.’’
Morgan backs the “concussion substitute rule” in the game. “The concussion rules are relevant for the game. In international cricket every team has two or three pedigree fast bowlers. And more and more people are getting hit on the head. Safety is paramount and in international cricket it always remains a priority.”
