Shaun Pollock's delivery was short of a good length, on the line outside the off-stump. Chris Gayle latched onto it and slapped it past the fielder at point for four runs. That was the first ball of the first over in the first match of the first-ever T20 World Cup. With the boundary, the West Indies opener didn't just smash the tournament into life, he broke new ground for the foundation of the future of cricket.
Led by the army of dissatisfied West Indian players seeking better payment, T20 specialists have blazed a trail that has set the format apart from its siblings. Discussions around swing planes, hitting arcs, intent, and long levers, are taking the focus away from the MCC Coaching Manual ascribed technique. And most importantly, with the proliferation of T20 franchise leagues, the format is now the vehicle for the sport’s growth.
Australia rounds up the list of favourites. Their ODI World Cup winning squad is as lethal in the shorter format. Compared to India and England, Australia’s squad might be a little more well-rounded. They have some of the most explosive opening batters in Travis Head and David Warner. Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green make for a hard-hitting middle order, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins lead a lethal bowling attack.
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