Dinesh Karthik opened up on the growing Test vs T20 debate and put the onus on players to chose between Test and T20 cricket amid concerns over technique of batters being effected in red-ball cricket due to an overdose of T20 cricket across the globe.
Last month during India's home series defeat against New Zealand, India head coach Gautam Gambhir sparked major debate among the cricket fraternity after blaming the poor defensive technique of Indian batters on T20 cricket as the Rohit Sharma-led team were whitewashed at home for the first time in history (in a series of three or more matches).
Karthik claimed that playing T20 and Test cricket are drastically different and explained how the technique to play both formats are different languages. Karthik conceded that cricket is undergoing a transition as things stand and stated that the sport will soon get specialist for both formats and called for ICC to safeguard players that chose red-ball cricket financially.
"As a player, a modern-day player, you've got to understand what technique is and it is completely different in Test and white ball cricket. In Test cricket, the language would be, get into the line of the ball. Know where you off-stump is. So you're practicing a lot for that. If you go to white ball cricket, it's actually staying beside the ball so that you get free arms. so it is two completely different languages and I think cricket as a sport is in transition where you will slowly but steadily start getting Test match specialists and T20 slash white ball specialists. It is going to happen. The demarcation is happening as we speak.
"And I agree with Gautam Gambhir when he said that the lack of defensive technique is prevalent because of the T20 format. But I don't think it's a complaint. I think it is a reality and the players need to choose. And it is the duty of the ICC and all the boards put together to make sure that both ends of the spectrum are happy. People who only choose Test cricket, they're also happy, financially wealthy and they have enough to compete with. And on the other side, the T20 is probably an easier answer because there is enough to compete," saidDinesh Karthik, India Ambassador SA20 at SA20 India Day.
"So, I just wish a lot of these T20 leagues continue doing what they're doing because they're growing the sport globally and providing opportunities. But in turn, it's the responsibility to also give back to the market in terms of the domestic side of things where they take care. Like what Graeme said about the domestic Test cricketers. He who chooses to play the Red Ball format and prioritises the Red Ball format is taking care of well as well. So, as we speak, you can definitely say there are players who would love to choose between this. As we speak I can confidently say that the transition is happening and you will see more and more players deciding to choose. It will financially make sense," Karthik added.
The 2007 T20 World Cup-winner further put the onus on players to chose which formats suits their strengths. He also gave the example of Nitish Kumar Reddy's selection in the Indian team.
"Yes, you will find the odd Stubbs and you will find the odd David Warner who are able to come in as T20 cricketers and grow and develop the game enough to play Test format. And that also, the likes of Stubbs have come through because of the franchise league, but mainly because of how much work is put in at a domestic level, etc. But, as I said, it is up to the player if he sees it being rewarding in terms of soul wise as well because some people like playing the Test some people I think it is the responsibility of everybody involved to make sure that they can make a living and earn a living. Once you start comparing these two, it becomes a problem because as you see, the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy came in as a T20 professional. Yes, he has played a handful of Ranji Trophy matches for Andhra. But today, he is in the Test squad because they see a certain value in having an all-rounder. Whether he will play in the XI or not is another question for another day. But for the moment, I think that's why cricket stands. Just like people trying to understand a couple of formats, it is the player who needs to understand where his strength lies and what he wants to invest more time in because the technique that is required for both these formats are very different.
On the topic, Graeme Smith, League Commissioner SA20 and gave the examples of players like Tristan Stubbs and David Warner to exhibit that players can transform from T20 specialist to successful Test players.
"Mark's a coach and DK's obviously still playing. I think naturally techniques would change. I think if I think back to the way I grew up, it was all about, developing your game to play Test cricket and then you would adapt to ODI cricket. So, now players are thinking about power, they're thinking about, how to, flow up with that. Technically, they're set up differently and they probably then have to grow and develop into the Test format. So, I think it's just flipped in terms of the way that batters are developing now.
"They're growing up thinking about playing white ball cricket and then they've then got to develop the technique. Like Stubbs is doing where he's come through the T20 formats. We saw David Warner do the same actually and then develop into a Test player. I mean, when I look at the Indian team, you've still got out-and-out Test players that have been there for a long time. Like, real quality that have, serious Test records. So I think it's just a bit of balancing like it was always," said Smith on SA 20 India Day.