I have read at a number of places that T20 is not really cricket. It is too much in favour of batsmen and bowlers are there as fillers to make batsmen look good. There is essentially no contest between bat and ball.
I do not agree with these statements. If you say, it is not a contest like a 5-day match, I agree but it is still a contest nevertheless. Batsmen are trying to score off every ball in this format and they have no other choice. Bowlers are trying to outwit the batsmen and trying to concede as small number of runs as possible. Every dot ball is a small victory for bowler and increases pressure on batsmen. And there is a contest on each and every ball for the duration of the match and batsmen & bowlers try to win each little contest symbolized by a ball. Bowlers need to think fast and come up with new ideas on each ball and batsmen have to adapt as per each ball keeping match situation in mind. It is a fair contest but of different kind – a different ballgame altogether.
