MELBOURNE, Dec 27: Australian great Allan Border feels although Twenty20 cricket is not bowler-friendly, the new version of the game is good for youngsters and certainly has high commercial value to attract new viewership.

Border also sees the Twenty20 franchises challenging the primacy of the traditional game and was of the view that it would be challenging for the administrators to run three versions of the game.

“While it worries me T20 cricket discourages bowlers, I can see it is a good package from a commercial standpoint. It brings new viewership to the game and is a good entry level game for kids. But that said, Test cricket must be preserved. Certainly having three forms of the game is testing for the programmers,” he was quoted as saying by The Australian.

“This is a vital period; a huge challenge to see whether the three forms of the game can co-exist,” he added.

Border, who played 156 Tests and led Australia a record 93 times, still serves the game as a director of both Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia.

For a time after his retirement from the Test arena in 1994, he served as a national selector and as a manager and mentor to emerging international players.

However, Border does not aspire to become Cricket Australia chief. “The way the game has developed the chairman’s is effectively a full-time job and I don’t see myself in that role,” Border said.

His only on-field activity now is mostly on beach cricket sponsored by an Australian beer company and playing Warehouse Cricket matches at Marchant Park in Brisbane along with his 24-year-old son Dene.—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Dark turn
Updated 11 Sep, 2024

Dark turn

What transpired in Islamabad should give at least the old guard within the more established political parties some pause.
Clearing the air
11 Sep, 2024

Clearing the air

THE rumour mill had been working overtime regarding a purported extension for the chief justice of the country....
Deplorable remarks
11 Sep, 2024

Deplorable remarks

It is a matter of grave concern that Imran Khan reportedly defended Gandapur’s hideous remarks about the Punjab CM and female journalists.
Delayed bailout
Updated 10 Sep, 2024

Delayed bailout

Dar’s tirade against IMF will likely add to existing uncertainties around the early disbursement of fresh funds.
PTI protest
10 Sep, 2024

PTI protest

IT seems that despite the federal government’s best efforts to sabotage the event, the PTI managed to pull off a...
Superbug threat
Updated 10 Sep, 2024

Superbug threat

THE global superbug crisis — the rise of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics — is a ticking time bomb. A...