AS THE debate over whether the shortest format of cricket – T20 – is killing the sport, one cricket commentator has sought to underscore its importance.
Overseas-based Guyanese Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira says there are positive benefits that the shortest format can have on player development, noting that the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is providing a platform for such.
He told the Guyana Chronicle that many people misunderstand the format of the game as just raw hitting. “There is a need for players to learn how to play T20 cricket. T20 Cricket doesn’t have to be hitting the ball from ball 1. People like Jacques Kallis play cricket shots. It means you must be able to read the game, know when to speed it up, know when to play with soft hands. I think we need to see our CPL players, mainly the West Indian players, learn this.”
He noted that other spin-off benefits from leagues like the CPL are that players often have the opportunity to mingle with foreigners who oftentimes aid in the development of various talents and mindsets.
“When you have players like Jacques Kallis, Taylor from New Zealand and you can call them all, there is a spin-off, a benefit to our players. Once they (our players) are willing to interact with those players, and try and gain as much information, I think that is a benefit.”
He also called for the inclusion of more Caribbean people, more so in the commentary panel. He recommended the likes of former West Indians Jeffrey Dujon and Fazir Mohammed as well as more West Indians in active roles like physiotherapists and match referees.
He noted that there are several hundreds of persons trained during the 2007 and 2010 World Cup to deal with match administration and such and they should be given a chance.
“In 2007 there were hundreds of Caribbean people trained in the volunteer system. Hundreds were trained in high administration systems. Good to see some of the security people being used from that training of 2007 by the CPL. I recognise that.”

By Stephan Sookram