The principal reason T20 has been so successful is more lifestyle than sporting: before it, cricket took a long time, now it doesn’t and, as attention-spans shorten while the cost of living increases and relative wages decrease, it suits more of the people more of the time.
But there’s solid middle-based rationale too: T20 can be settled by one individual having a day out, or a few swinging hard and hitting well for the not very much time it takes to turn a contest. As India, England and Australia grow ever richer and ever more remote, this aspect is of increasing significance.
These formulae – OK, I’m flattering my logic by calling them that – almost caught England out against Nepal, and operate with greater weight against West Indies. Of course, the loser of this contest will still expect to qualify for the Super 8 by beating everyone else but, as per the above, in this format of the game anyone can beat anyone, so you never quite know.
Play: 1.30pm