Sport | Cricket
'T20 a pale shadow of the great game'
Ted Dexter was in the Kolkata recently to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary. His wife Susan has had a close relationship with the City of Joy. Her father Tom Longfield was the first captain from Bengal to lift the Ranji Trophy.
- By D. Datta, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:33 January 16, 2009
- Image Credit: D. Datta
- Ted Dexter says he never pays to watch cricket in England, but would not mind paying to watch VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist in full flow.
Kolkata: Ted Dexter was in the Kolkata recently to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary. His wife Susan has had a close relationship with the City of Joy. Her father Tom Longfield was the first captain from Bengal to lift the Ranji Trophy.
Dexter, former England captain, ECB chief selector and a commentator-cricket writer, continues to be passionate about cricket at the age of 73. Excerpts:
Gulf News: Where do you live now?
Ted Dexter: I live in France. But I have a Sky dish on my roof. I can follow cricket without any problem! And while in England, I never pay to watch cricket!
There is a big controversy over Kevin Peitersen's switch-hit. Your comments.
It's tough, really tough. Just hitting the ball is tough and he hits it for a six! But to be true to myself, I've always hoped batsmen in the international circuit would be able to bat both-handed. Something like baseball where they do it according to the pitch of the delivery. Kevin has been doing it successfully.
But is it fair to the bowler?
I cannot say. What I know is, it is better for batsmen if they have the skill. For example, right-handed batsmen batting against Shane Warne would have benefitted if they could switch to batting left-handed. Brian Lara played Warne brilliantly. Besides, Warne did not have a great googly.
Do you watch Twenty20?
I do not like watching the shorter version of the game. For me, Twenty 20 is a pale shadow of the great game. But, I did enjoy playing 40 and 50-over matches.
But there is a serious threat to Test cricket today with the advent of Twenty20.
Well, what I can say is, if Test cricket does not survive, it will not be the first time that a beautiful thing has disappeared from this earth, is it not?
If you had to 'pay' to watch some of the modern day cricketers, whom would you choose?
I would not mind paying to watch VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist. I love watching Laxman's clean hitting. Sehwag is a fantastic player and Gilchrist, although he has retired now, was simply a magnificent hitter of the cricket ball.
Hayden was a big-hitter of the cricket ball, too.
I did not enjoy his batting even when he was in full swing and not out of form. I find the way he went for the ball kind of wooden.
You have always loved touring the subcontinent.
It's been a great privilege to be in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. I have played everywhere in India. It was wonderful.
- The author is a Kolkata-based cricket writer
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