Gaurav Saxena

NEW DELHI: "We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon," said Emil Zatopek, winner of four Olympic gold medals. T20 is like the 100 mts race while Test cricket is still the marathon.

For everyone who has been a part of the big debate- Twenty20 vs. Test cricket -should understand that evolution is inevitable.

Evolution may have been misunderstood as far as cricket is concerned. To think that the game is becoming faster, more attractive has turned into some sort of a 'misdeed' for purists. Twenty20 is like fast food, a movie and is the 'in vogue' platform for youngsters. Speaking exclusively to clt20.com, the man who revolutionised the modern day game with his incredible abilities on a cricket field - Jonty Rhodes said players are discovering new skills by each passing day because of the fast-paced game.

With six or seven nations at tops, racing at the international level with a certain amount of finesse, obviously, the game's evolution into the next level was unavoidable.

Not only has Twenty20 given a new lease of life to a host of young and aging cricketers, it has encouraged new audiences and countries about the game of cricket.

Jonty is all for T20 cricket. He opines the format has brought in new dimensions to players' skill-sets, besides picking up the intensity of a sport that was dying a slow death until a couple of Englishmen came to the party by devising T20.

"It has truly picked up the intensity levels of a cricketer. His skills have improved to the fullest, there are new skills that a player is discovering by each, passing day. It is wonderful for the sport," the legendary Jonathan Rhodes told clt20.com

"It is cliched to think that T20 is all about the bang, bang. If you analyse closely, there have been a host of new shots discovered, new deliveries on display and fitter, stronger cricketers. Sure you can go from 90 to 100 in one shot but that's' the beauty of it."

The 39-year old who played 52 Tests and 245 ODIs for South Afirca, reckons that Twenty20 is like a 'saviour' for the sport which was dying a slow death because of authorities' failed efforts to globalise it with existing formats like Test and ODI.

"I am a firm believer that the game of cricket would have lost the fan base if it continued the way it did over the last two decades. Sure you had a few sides that were competitive and Test cricket has been exhilarating over the last 12 months but it wasn't enough to pack the stadiums like the IPL games have."

Rhodes also believes that the pressure has increased on the players.

"Each and every player on that field is under so much pressure. The balls are flying around, so are the fielders, the energy levels are amazing and the bowlers are constantly trying to fox the batsmen with variations and new skills and deliveries that they have discovered, thanks to this incredible format."

Mumbai Indians' fielding coach is of the opinion that these 'new skills' that have come into the fray because of Twenty20 will help develop the game on a whole.

"Cricket is finally a sport for athletes. The role of a fielder has become just as important as that of a batsman or a bowler; which tells me that we are heading in the right direction," he said.