| For those of us who are not cricket fans if we were | | | | clear that they were the winners the players and |
| to hear the expression 20/20 we would think of 20 | | | | umpires started to take things less seriously and Billy |
| 20 vision; but for the cricket lover the phrase 20/20 | | | | Bowden even produced a red card, which are not |
| brings up a completely different vision! Often | | | | normally used in cricket. |
| written as Twenty20 cricket this is a relatively recent | | | | The inaugural World Twenty20 was played in South |
| form of the traditional cricket game and the vision | | | | Africa in 2007 where India defeated Pakistan by five |
| for a Twenty20 cricket fan in 2010 could be spending | | | | runs. In 2009 Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight |
| time in Barbados, St. Lucia, Guyana or St. Kitts to | | | | wickets. The third ICC World Twenty20 Cricket |
| watch the next World 20/20. | | | | Tournament will be held in the West Indies in April |
| So what is Twenty20 cricket and when did it start? | | | | and May 2010. It promises the world’s best |
| In 2003 this form of cricket also referred to as T20 | | | | cricketing talent in this thrilling and fast tournament. |
| cricket was introduced in the United Kingdom for | | | | The ICC World Twenty20 Cricket Tournament will |
| professional inter-county competitions by the England | | | | take place in Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Guyana |
| and Wales Cricket Board. The game involved two | | | | from 30th April to 16th May 2010. With locations like |
| teams each of whom has a single innings and they | | | | these even a person who has not followed cricket |
| are batting for a maximum of 20 overs. | | | | before could easily be tempted to go on a |
| Twenty20 Cricket matches last around three and a | | | | Twenty20 cricket tour. Barbados has actually |
| half hours which means that the game is brought | | | | opened a museum in November 2009 which is called |
| more in line with other popular sports. It has been | | | | the Cricket Legends of Barbados Museum and those |
| very successful in achieving its aim of creating a lively | | | | who go there on these cricket tours can also enjoy |
| game which would be attractive to live spectators as | | | | some of the best beaches around. In fact the |
| well as TV viewers. It has now spread wildly around | | | | Crane Beach was rated one of the ten best beaches |
| the cricket world so that on most international tours | | | | in the world by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. |
| there will be at least one T20 match played. | | | | St. Lucia, another location included in these Twenty20 |
| | | | cricket tours, has an amazing combination of tropical |
| The first Twenty20 International Cricket Match took | | | | bliss as well as diving, snorkeling, spa pampering and |
| place on 17th February 2005 between Australia and | | | | so much more. |
| New Zealand. It was approached in a light hearted | | | | Some critics may say that although the T20 cricket |
| way with both teams wearing kit similar to that worn | | | | format has proved so successful it could be |
| in the 1980s plus some players taking it to the next | | | | influencing youngsters to being misguided about the |
| level by sporting 1980’s hairstyles, beards and | | | | game thinking it is all about trying to hit 6s and 4s. |
| moustaches; competing in cricket and for the best | | | | However the impact in general has been extremely |
| retro look at the same time! At least the T20 | | | | positive and the Twenty20 game is a more athletic |
| cricket match was won by Australia but as it was so | | | | and explosive form of cricket. |