T20 cricket is rapidly becoming a turn-off

IT is important to fight to keep Test and domestic cricket in all formats using local players, wherever our beautiful sport is played, but I am getting worried about the future of T20 cricket.

There have been signs in the IPL and the Caribbean of some reduction in crowds. My local ground had 14,000 for the first game, but since then crowds have gone down to 10,000. Still very good, but a worrying trend.

Indeed, only three of the eight T20 competitions worldwide actually make money, one of which being the Blast.

As a fan of T20 said to me yesterday, it is becoming a gimmick. Pitches are totally flat with no help for the bowler, the white ball does not swing, seam or spin, boundaries are brought in and bats send mishits over the fence.

In the first IPL, Shane Warne spun his team to victory.Whatever the number of overs we play, there can and should be a contest between bat and ball. There really has to be, or we are left with an exhibition of six-hitting.

This then becomes tedious, a six no longer a moment of excitement. ‘Thrill cricket’ becomes dull cricket. Too much of the same thing with no variety in the end leads to boredom.

If drop-in pitches are used for the new competition in the year 2020, as ECB are considering, then bowlers may as well find a new occupation, their skills being redundant.

The fact that scores are getting higher is a big danger sign, not a cause for celebration. RICHARD DAY

Nottingham