Fifty-over limited over cricket has come to stay - Mahela

By Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena said that twenty-over cricket will not take the glamour off the usual 50-over game. The most prestigious prize in limited overs cricket is undoubtedly the World Cricket Cup played once in four years. "The last seven or eight World Cup Championships were fantastic, that's the crown trophy which everyone is going after, and don't think that element will be lost", he said.

"It is good to see the twenty over version, lot of people love to see it. However, it depends what type of players love to play it for a long period of time. It is definitely a challenge for all cricketers."

Talking more about the Twenty20 version, Mahela said that initially when the 50-overs game was introduced, people thought that Test cricket would be shoved out. But, it was not to be, in fact the skill levels improved and it is certain that in the Twenty20 too, the skill levels will improve more, and the 50 overs game will look more exciting. My personal view is cricket is going to be the winner, he added. Mahela emphasised that his first love is still Test cricket and the fifty overs.

"For me it is still the 50 overs, I have still not got the hang of the 20 overs game. I am challenging myself to improve myself to be a better 20 over player, but, you never know in another two years time I probably would change my mind and say I love twenty overs. But right now, I challenge myself and make sure whenever I play Twenty20 again, I push myself harder. Right now I am enjoying 50 over cricket."