Cullinan, a South African Test and ODI star, said the T20s could pose a threat to the longer format of the game.
The Indian Premier League is the flavour of the season. Thus, it was interesting to hear former cricketers talk about the talent on display and the different aspects of the game in the ongoing tournament.
At a meet and greet session in a suburban hotel, former South Africa star Daryll Cullinan, Australian Dirk Nannes, New Zealand pacer Iain O'Brien and Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar discussed a wide range of issues from how the game has evolved to why the young Sarfaraz Khan was not getting enough chances and MS Dhoni's lack of faith in Ravichandran Ashwin.
Cullinan, a South African Test and ODI star, said the T20s could pose a threat to the longer format of the game.
"It would be fair to say that Test cricket is under a little threat. The style of play is different as the batsman are playing reverse sweeps. When Bob Woolmer was our coach in the 1990s, he had asked us to develop the shot. And we were like 'are you crazy'. Now see the emergence. Guys are far better players in ability and are stronger," he said.
Cullinan said a lot of past players would have been a hit in the current format. "Lot of Test players would have been phenomenal. I love the format. Hansie Cronje would have been good striker of the ball. He was also a better player of spin and also someone who could bowl the out-swingers. Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald would have been the bowlers. Internationally, Mark Waugh would have been the one. There were quite a good few players," he said.
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Recently, Sachin Tendulkar had said that thicker bats are making it easier for the batsman. However, O'Brien differed. "We have so much stronger guys than previously. The components to hit sixes are high. Bats haven't played that big a part, but little bit. Boundaries were close to eight-nine yards back in the beginning. Now, the guys are confident to hit sixes. It's about the conditioning, ability to hit cleanly, change in techniques with baseball stances. It is more with the man than the tools," said O'Brien.
Aussie seamer Nannes said: "The players then didn't practice hitting sixes like how they do know. They have been practicing longer, which makes it look easier," he said.
Cullinan, meanwhile, wanted to see fielding substitutions. "In T20, we can make changes. I want to see fielding substitutions."
Young Indian batting sensation and RCB player Sarfaraz was dropped mid-way in the season, with skipper Virat Kohli sighting problems with his fielding and fitness. It left Cullinan amazed. "I thought he would probably play more. May be the top batting is too heavy. It could be to bring a balance in the side. Virat is setting some standards in fielding," Cullinan said.
On Dhoni not using Ashwin enough, he said: "I am very surprised. He (Ashwin) has hardly bowled. He is the go-to guy if one needs wicket. He hasn't bowled enough," he said.
Agarkar, however, defended Dhoni. "At times it may seem odd but I don't think it is due to any lack of faith. When Pune came to Mumbai, it was a seamers' wicket and Ashwin's bowling was not needed," Agarkar said. "You have to remember that when the IPL games were played in spin-friendly conditions in Chennai, he used to open the bowling. The conditions matter," he added.
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