I watched most of the last Test between England and Pakistan absolutely enthralled, a feeling I have not had for a long time with professional Twenty20 cricket.
The test is still an event here in England and sad as it may sound I would set aside a day out to watch it! T20 cricket seems to be more of an event elsewhere, particularly in India, and it is a big money spinner. But we have had overkill here in England.
So much overkill that T20 cricket which as amateurs we have been playing for years and years has become less of a treat and a fun evening to what authorities see as serious cricket. But the players don't always take it seriously.
I recently filled in at a finals day for our 3rd XI in our T20 competition in Cornwall, the Andrew Cup - which is geared for junior standard cricketers. The competition prided itself on not being T20 but simply 20-over cricket, with no power plays, dug outs or music. Regardless of that, the batsmen have still changed the way they have played since seeing the likes of Trescothick smash 50 in 13 balls. I opened up with our team chasing 140 to win and progress to the final but couldn't get bat on ball and decided to sacrifice my wicket. Now I'm not the best batsmen and I'm not saying T20 cricket is to blame, but situations like that wont help me improve.
Our 1st and 2nd teams play in a second T20 competition, an addition to the traditional Vinter Cup. But it seems almost all clubs view it as a joke. I (4th team captain) was asked to play in the 1st team because they were that short of players and in one game against the 2nds, an opposition batsmen came in for the last ball at the non-strikers end not wearing any pads, all seems a bit of a joke.
As amateurs Saturday games are the pinnacle and people have work and families to think about, so, rightly so, the T20 falls by the wayside.
Let's hope if there is too much cricket in the professional game it is the T20 that falls by the wayside too. Yes I would still go and watch the odd T20, but if I had to choose between that and watching Test, there's no contest.
JT