On the cricketing world stage it is becoming increasingly evident that the job requirements for a successful T20 player are different from those for the longer forms of the game. Although there are players that excel in all formats, specialisation appears to be the order of the day. Whether this is due mainly to the physical and time demands on players of trying to perform in all formats or to do with different skill sets remains to be seen.

With the smaller player pool to choose from and much fewer international matches [up until recently at least] differences in playing squads under the different formats have been less pronounced in Ireland. But of course this may change.

It is in this light that we look at performances in the premier T20 competition in Leinster [the LHK Insurance AM T20 League]. Twenty players scored 150 runs or more in the T20 League.

All the players in the table had a scoring rate [SR] of over 100 and three [Brad Barnes, Lorcan Tucker and Arslan Anwar] over 150. Comparing this to the Senior Batting Averages we find that only 6 of the 13 players who figured in the final SBA also appear in the T20 table. John Anderson and Simi Singh are the only players who scored at a rate greater than 100 in both formats.

On the bowling front 22 players [10 or more wickets] are include in the T20 table. None completed the season with an Economy Rate [Econ] of less than 5 runs per over. The make-up of the successful T20 bowlers [the top eight that went for less than 6 per over] has some familiar names but only two in common with the table for the Senior Bowling Averages, John Mooney [D1] and Tom Stanton [D2].

If one selects based on the number of overs bowled [20+] but disregards the wickets taken then three further names are added to the list of those with an economy rate of less than 6, Bilal Azhar [Leinster], Fiachra Tucker {Pembroke] and Conor Sheil [N County].  

On course one cannot read too much into one set of figures. The tables for bowlers might suggest the emergence of players who have adapted to the T20 format of the game. But there is really not enough data to go on. Still it will be interesting to see over the next few years if any patterns emerge that point to greater specialisation across the formats and if this is reflected in selection policy.