Brave new world

Twenty20 has come a long way in five years. One group that was initially resistant to the idea were bowlers, who said: "It's a batsman's game already." There seemed to be nowhere for them to go, as batsmen were given the freedom to go on an all-out attack. Bowlers who had prided themselves on being capable of consistent line and length became nothing more than colourful bowling machines.

However, once they outgrew this denial phase, bowlers realised they had to sharpen their skills and be able to execute their plans with ultimate precision. New slower balls quickly became part of every bowler's armoury, as did short run-ups and different lines of block-hole delivery. Pre-Twenty20, players spoke solely of yorkers, but the new era demanded the increased accuracy of off stump - or even fifth-stump yorkers to keep control of the game.

Personally I think that bowling in this form of the game is much more cerebral than just plonking the ball on a length - especially at my slow pace. The Twenty20 masters are those who can outwit their opponent by delivering the unexpected and having mental agility to rival their physical agility. Bowlers need to feel composed and measured in their approach but wholly committed to their planned delivery. They also need to be able to suspend their egos regarding their best delivery and focus on what the most effective delivery is in the context.

You can't over-emphasise how much of a challenge it is for the bowlers. Batsmen walk to the wicket with shoulders back and muscles pumped ready for action. They look to impose themselves from ball one since usually there is not time to settle in. Big crowds are often the cause of fear of failure - for many domestic players Twenty20 has been their first experience of full houses - but it seems that the modern batsman is fired up by the crowd and feels that he has nothing to lose.

The batsmen generally have clear plans, and despite the physical burden of having to sprint between the wickets, manage to keep their heads clear and stay committed to their shots. Tactically, batsmen are becoming more aware, manipulating the field with a wide array of shots and standing still for as long as possible so as to obtain the best platform to dispatch the ball to the boundary. The Twenty20 arena is no place for technical perfection, which has encouraged players to use their immense natural talent to invent new shots and stay ahead of the game.

Fielding is huge in the new era. Not only do some players gain selection largely due to their fielding prowess but we are seeing specialist fielders running from one end of the pitch to the other to maximise their effectiveness for the team. Fielders seem more prepared to swap and change positions constantly, and also seem to relish the extra workload and pressure that each ball brings. Gone are the days where you may be redundant in a certain position: the Twenty20 fielder is switched on and expects the ball every time.

As for the captaincy, it is an experience in itself, like taking a Lamborghini down a giant slalom course. There are big decisions to make with almost every ball. Team talks can help but ultimately it's the player's execution under pressure that gives the winning captain control.

There is enough evidence of Twenty20's positive influence on the game's other versions to justify its unquestionable merits, and now that players have embraced this swashbuckling format, the bar can only be raised in the future.