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Final – India v New Zealand – Sunday, March 9 – Dubai

Moss

International Captain
Once again the reason is money . See how much have Star Sports Paid to ICC for next 4 years or 8 years Cycle. There is a clause in that Contract there would be guaranteed 1 ICC event every year with India matches at favourable time slot for viewers preferably Sunday . ICC have no option but to hold T20 WC every 2 years .

Already Star Sports are unhappy after last year T20 WC
Yeah the calendar is the way it is for a good reason, just that (to me at least) it dilutes the standing of the T20 WC as the biggest event in the sport. I wish they'd show some imagination and find other ways of getting international games in there - for example, the two teams which tour India for tests during the annual season could play a T20 tri-series across Indian venues, similar to how the Australian ODI tri-series was an annual event back in the day (and if the BCCI really wants to, they can market anything).

Would love for them to think beyond the obligatory IND-PAK tournament game which gets eyeballs but adds nothing to the rivalry these days.
 

SteveNZ

International Coach
Franchise cricket is getting massive. Plenty of players are prioritising franchise T20 cricket over longer formats with their country. Imagine if The Hundred explodes with all the investment they got recently and imagine if it gets an exclusive window like the IPL. Many players would prioritize that over some meaningless bilateral series where the pay would be lesser.

Think of how ODI cricket became popular and eventually leading to ODI World Cup becoming the biggest event in cricket. We're seeing that with T20 cricket.

Playing 5 T20's and 3 ODI's has become a common pattern in bilateral series these days. Even the olympics I believe will be played in T20 format.

We can talk about prestige and legacy all we want but ultimately numbers matter. Test cricket has viewership only when the big 3 play each other and even those numbers baulks in comparison to IPL viewership for example.
The ICC and the major stakeholders could throw all their eggs in the T20 basket now. In the short-term, it would make a lot more money.

But the ICC especially have an obligation to the long-term viability of cricket. T20 isn't special. That can be replaced by whatever dopamine-spiking fix comes along next. Unless it can build meaning, and narratives as Moss said, it may not last.

You point to the Hundred, which from all I read on here and pick up the odd conversation about, has made no traction there at all. It's all bells and whistles and no impact. LIV Golf is another example of something that thought it could throw money at a situation, without meaning or prestige, and make it work. It hasn't.

You could well be right in what you're saying, obviously I have an opinion and a strong one.

Is there a sport in the world that maintains popularity and viability without a depth of history, prestige and strong narrative to it? Because that's what T20Is are. They're just cat nip for broadcasters. I went to one this summer, it was a DJ set with a game threatening to break out in the middle.
 

SteveNZ

International Coach
Anyway, I am beyond excited for this final. I don't like our chances of competing against India's spin threats, especially if we bat second, but please if there is a God of all that is right and holy in this sport, let us win. The rest of the world wants it, and needs it. India can check out of their Dubai palatial suites with nothing more to show than bed sores from staying in the same place for 3 weeks in a tournament they took on honorary rights to host.
 

Moss

International Captain
Conway for Young or Mitchell is something NZ should strongly consider. It’s no guarantee of success, but if they’re to win they’ll need someone to take down spin like Ravindra against Maharaj the other day, or Mitchell against Kuldeep at Dharamsala in WC23 (and even that wasn’t enough for a win).

Iyer is shaping as a real point of difference in India-NZ contests. Like Pant in tests, difficult for most spinners to tie him down. As in the group game his contribution will probably have a big influence on the outcome.
 

ashley bach

International Coach
Conway for Young or Mitchell is something NZ should strongly consider. It’s no guarantee of success, but if they’re to win they’ll need someone to take down spin like Ravindra against Maharaj the other day, or Mitchell against Kuldeep at Dharamsala in WC23 (and even that wasn’t enough for a win).

Iyer is shaping as a real point of difference in India-NZ contests. Like Pant in tests, difficult for most spinners to tie him down. As in the group game his contribution will probably have a big influence on the outcome.
Just can't see them contemplating leaving Mitchell out tbh

Will you be watching the game with your dad tonight? If so let the skirmishes begin!
 

SkyBlue

State Regular
Matt Henry ruled out. Massive loss. Who is his replacement?

I still think Jamieson can do some damage with the new ball.
 

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