Thaindian News

Melbourne, June 2 (IANS) Twenty20’s booming popularity has prompted Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland to predict separate Test and Twenty20 teams for the country.
Sutherland espoused this long-term vision during a keynote speech at a major CA seminar on the Gold Coast Tuesday.

“While hosting Tests here, Australia could have its Twenty20 team touring somewhere else,” Sutherland was quoted as saying in The Australian.

“It is difficult not to see a generation of players coming through with an eye to becoming Twenty20 specialists. As more Twenty20 cricket is played, there are clearly opportunities for players to choose to be specialists.”

“Taking it through to its natural extension, if you have a specialist team then why can’t you have a specialist Twenty20 team and a specialist Test team (playing) at the same time?” he asked.

“In rugby union, for example, the ARU has a sevens team and a Wallabies team.”

Australia’s revamped Twenty20 side, which was undefeated at the recent World Twenty20 in the Caribbean until beaten by England in the final, already has three specialist players. Opening batsman David Warner and opening bowlers Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes now play only T20 cricket for Australia.

Two other players, Australia’s Twenty20 vice-captain Cameron White and Victorian teammate David Hussey, are short-form specialists, playing Twenty20 and one-day cricket, although Hussey played the last of his one-day internationals nine months ago.

The lucrative IPL and Australia’s state-based Big Bash competition are giving players new choices.