What is T20 Cricket?

Everything you need to know about cricket's newest format!

 

T20, or Twenty/20 cricket is a short, fast, action packed version of the classic game of cricket which aims at compacting all the action of a one day or test game into the short twenty/20 format.

In Test cricket, games last up to 5 days with each team batting 2 innings where they have the option to bat for as long as they wish. This results in a game with a much slower pace.

One day cricket involves each team batting for a maximum of 50 overs and, as the name suggests, takes a full day to complete a game.

Twenty/20 cricket allows each team to bat for a maximum of 20 overs. This results in bigger shots being played, as wickets falling is less important. The game can be played in a couple of hours which means it fits in with the time frame of many other team sports.

Each team bats for a single 20 over innings. This creates a far more offensive and exciting game for the audience to enjoy. Batsmen play each ball, rather than blocking those that aren't ideal, they attempt to play big shots. Wickets fall fast and the run rate per over is significantly higher than other forms of the game.

In Australia, the game has become popular enough to support a domestic competition in addition to the international competition we're seeing in 2012.

What happens if there's a draw?

In a situation where after each team's 20 over innings, scores are tied, each team nominates their batsmen for the tie breaker "super over" in which both teams bat for an over and the higher score wins!