Should there be more T20 Cricket

Should we play more T20 Cricket? Globally it has proved successful, especially below international level, in raising the public profile of the sport, attracting sponsors and increasing income from broadcasting rights. But does it have a role at club level in what is still mainly an amateur sport. Most players enjoy the longer form of the game so it is not a question of one replacing the other, but finding the right balance. 

First of all what is the case for more T20 cricket in Leinster. The following points might be taken into consideration on the plus side.

• we have a massive drop off in domestic cricketers in their 20s and 30s. At least one of the reasons given is that with work and family commitments the current one-day format is too much of a commitment. There has been a surge in interest among young adults in recreational sport [tag rugby, softball, competitive ‘Frisbees’, ‘five-a-side’ football etc. ] but cricket has not succeeded in tapping into this audience.
• there is pressure on grounds, especially the main grounds of the bigger clubs. Part of the reason is that only one adult match is played on a ground each weekend day. Playing two T20 games on one of these days [1.00 and 5.00] would increase the numbers that could be accommodated,
• playing more T20 cricket would also allow for a mix of games with senior / womens and even youth matches all being played on the same day. [Some years back the case was made for putting on a youth match after a senior game. This would encourage players to stay around and support their youth team and for youth players to see the senior team in action.] This might also bring in more spectators. 
• there is greater potential for raising sponsorship for T20 competitions. 
• the changing international structures of world cricket may mean that it is easier to qualify for high profile World Cups in T20 format than for 50 Over world cups. 

What is the case for maintaining the status quo [with perhaps some tinkering with regional structures].

• playing more T20 cricket would require some reduction in the number of 50/40 over games. This would be seen as undesirable by many players and spectators,
• too much focus on T20 cricket will weaken the development structures for young cricketers.
• T20 matches might be considered a lesser attraction where greater distances to travel to matches is involved [the counter argument might be that travel plus a three hour game is quite sufficient a time commitment].

In the end we are talking about a strategic decision to play more T20 Cricket or not. if the latter then excepting some tinkering with the regulations around the playing of evening matches nothing much needs to be done. If the former then the regulations / structures of competitions will have to change to deal with the new situation. If a decision in principle were to be made to increase the number of T20 matches - this can only be accommodated through some reduction in the amount of OD cricket played. There would seem to be two broad approaches:

[a] Two separate structures for league competitions with clubs able to choose how many teams they want to enter for each format of the game [and if clubs want to continue with the same number of longer format teams they can do so]. There are a number of options here.

A single structure but with some leagues having a different mix of matches with a T20 competition concentrated in the middle of the season and a shortened longer format season [perhaps in two parts with all-play all for the first half [7 games] and then top and bottom play-offs for the end of season [3 games].

These are all matters to be discussed at the Cricket Club day next Saturday [Green Isle Hotel].